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WUHAN, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Eleven workers are trapped in a coal mine after a gas outburst in central China's Hubei Province, according to a local government source Tuesday.
The accident occurred at around 11:20 p.m. Monday at Xinjia Coal Mine in Badong, a county in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. There were 46 miners working underground at the time of the incident.
Sixteen workers were at the coalface where the outburst occurred. Five have been extracted safely but 11 remain trapped.
Air is being pumped into the area where the miners are trapped, and the mining authorities have supplied the rescuers with respirators. Mining experts are checking the condition of the shaft.
Hubei Vice Governor Xu Kezhen is at the scene directing the rescue mission.
