China: 22 workers trapped in gold mine explosion

Miners in China's northeastern Shandong province have been trapped for nearly two days following an explosion. The blast damaged their communication systems, cutting off all contact.

Chinese authorities have sent rescuers to a gold mine in the country's northeast where 22 workers are trapped underground following an explosion, state media reported on Tuesday.

The blast happened on Sunday afternoon in a town near Qixia city, located in the eastern Shandong province, a local government official said.

The explosion damaged the exit from the mine as well as the communication system, cutting off all contact with the trapped miners, according to a statement released late Monday.

The mine is owned by Shandong Wucailong Investment Co Ltd, a company which Zhaojin Mining — China's fourth-biggest gold miner — named as a "subsidiary of an associate," according to its 2019 annual report.

Mining accidents are quite common in China where the industry has a poor safety record and regulations are not properly enforced.