HOHHOT, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Seventeen people were confirmed dead and many others remained trapped following an explosion at a coal mine in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Saturday, local authorities said.
The explosion happened around midday at Baoma Mining Co. Ltd. in Yuanbaoshan District in the city of Chifeng, sources with the regional work safety authority and the city government of Chifeng confirmed.
The local government has launched search and rescue operation.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.