Five miners were killed and another seven were injured in a coal mine explosion in central China's Henan Province on Wednesday night, local government sources confirmed on Friday.

The blast occurred in a coal mine in Yegou village of Huangdao Township in Jiaxian County when 66 miners were working underground.

Five miners were killed. The rest survived the accident, seven of whom suffered slight injuries.

The county government received the report of the blast on Thursday noon and immediately sent rescue teams to the spot.

The colliery was run by Daliushan Coal Company, a subsidiary ofHenan Yuantian Corporation.

Investigation into the cause of the blast is under way.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2006)