Beijing: A major coal mine explosion in North China's coal-rich Shanxi province on March 23 killed 28 and 45 are still missing, official reports said.

Some 87 miners were working underground in the Mengnanzhuang coal mine in Xiaoyi city on March 22, when the blast happened. Fifteen miners have been rescued so far, Xinhua news agency reported.

The condition of the 45 still trapped in the mine is not yet known.

Senior leaders of the provincial government have rushed to the scene and rescue work is underway.

The cause of the blast is yet to be known, the report said.

Coal mine-related accidents in China kill thousands of miners every year. Authorities blame most of the accidents on lack of adequate safety measures in remote and private coal mines.

PTI