Graham Brown
17 people were trapped in the coal mine of Qinjiang District, Chongqing City, southwest China, due to excess carbon monoxide concentrations.
Local officials said the incident occurred early this morning when the conveyor belt in the coal mine caught fire, leading to a dangerous concentration of carbon monoxide leaking in the mine.
Rescuers at the scene of a coal mine collapse killed 18 people in Chongqing in 2016 Photo: Xinhua
More than 100 rescue and medical personnel were present at the scene and the cause of the incident is being investigated, the Ky Giang district government said.
Mining accidents happen frequently in China, where the industry has a poor safety record and regulations are often enforced.
In December 2018, seven miners were also killed in Chongqing after the connection of a workers-carrying cage in the mine broke and fell.
