An explosion at a coal mine in central China has killed 20 miners and trapped another 17 underground.
Rescue efforts are underway at the the pit in Yuzhou, Henan province, which state media said had been hit by a "sudden coal and gas outburst".
China's mining industry is the most dangerous in the world - more than 2,600 were killed in accidents in 2009.
The government has shut down more than 1,000 illegal pits this year as part of efforts to improve safety standards.
The blast happened in the early morning at the Yuzhou pit, which is owned by Pingyu Coal & Electric Co Ltd, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
The national work safety agency said 239 miners had managed to reach the surface but that 20 had been found dead and a further 17 were still missing.
Rescue operations are continuing to find the missing men, but an official surnamed Li told the Associated Press news agency it was not clear how far underground they were.
BBC News
