Beijing: At least 33 miners were killed and another nine missing after a gas explosion ripped through a coal mine in the northern Chinese city of Datong, official reports said on August 12.

The blast occurred on August 11 morning when 43 miners were working in the Xing'ergou mine in Shanxi province, China's leading coal producer.

One miner was rescued while 20 bodies were found buried underground by rescue workers, Xinhua news agency reported quoting officials of the state administration of production safety.

Thirteen other miners who had been brought out alive died in hospital.

PTI