A gas explosion in a Chinese coal mine today killed at least 34 people, the official Xinhua news agency has reported.
The explosion occurred in a mine near Hebi, a city in the central province of Henan, according to the report.
More than 2,700 people have died in floods, explosions, collapses and other mining accidents in China during the first half of this year.
The huge industry supplies about three-quarters of the country's energy and is straining to keep pace with voracious demand from a rapidly growing economy.