Death toll rises to 16 in southwest China coal, gas outburst

 

A rescuer enters a rescue vehicle in Anlong County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 18, 2019. Sixteen miners were killed after a coal and gas outburst happened at the coal mine in Guizhou early Tuesday, local authorities said on Wednesday. Rescue work has ended and investigation is underway. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

GUIYANG, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen miners were killed after a coal and gas outburst happened at a coal mine in southwest China's Guizhou Province early Tuesday, local authorities said on Wednesday.

The accident happened at around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday at Guanglong Coal Mine in Anlong County, when 23 workers were working underground. Seven workers have been lifted to safety.

Rescue work has ended and investigation is underway.