Seven miners were killed and nine others still trapped in a colliery gas explosion occurred Friday afternoon in Wuhai City of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The explosion took place at 5:20 p.m. on Friday in the coal mine owned by the Bayinsai Coal Tar Co. Ltd. when 19 miners were working there. So far only three miners have been evacuated and the bides of the seven victims founded while the other nine miners are still trapped, according to a local official.

According to a preliminary investigation, the company is operating the mine without safety production license.

The company said that it has applied for the license, but hasn't got approval so far.

Rescue work is still underway and the cause of the accident under investigation.

A rescue command office has been set up at the site. So far, the investigators have frozen the company's bank account, cash and property.
 
(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2005)