China says 11 dead after gas explosion in northern coal mine, with 128 trapped

China says 11 dead after coal mine explosion

BEIJING — Chinese authorities say 11 people have been killed in a gas explosion in a coal mine and 128 others remain trapped underground.

A statement by the State Administration of Work Safety says another 389 people at the Xinxing mine in Heilongjiang province managed to escape after the explosion early Saturday morning. Earlier reports had no death toll.

A man answering the phone at the mine has said an unknown number of people were injured.

The mine is run by one of China’s biggest state-owned companies.