At least 21 workers killed in China coal mine fire

One miner is still missing following blaze in northeast Heilongjiang province

A worker walks past a pile of coal near a coal mine in China. Photograph: Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images
A worker walks past a pile of coal near a coal mine in China. Photograph: Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images

A state-owned coal mine caught fire on Friday in northeast China's Heilongjiang province, leaving 21 workers dead and one missing, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the local government.

The incident is under control and 16 workers managed to escape, Xinhua said, without elaborating.

A total of 38 miners were working in the mine, operated by the provincial government’s Heilongjiang Longmay Mining Holding Group Co, when the fire broke out, according to the report.

Bloomberg