8 killed in central China coal mine blast

By Fuat Kabakci

BEIJING

Eight people have been killed in a coal mine blast in China’s central Hunan province, the state media reported Tuesday.

Three people are still missing following the blast at 1:37 am local time (1737GMT) at Coal Mine in Lianyuan City, Xinhua said.

"A total of 29 people were working underground. 17 people were rescued uninjured and one got hurt. Three people remained unaccounted for," Xinhua reported.

China is world’s number one coal producer.