A gas explosion trapping 51 miners Thursday in a coal mine of north China's Hebei Province has aroused "great concern" of the Central government, and officials from National Bureau of Production Safety Supervision and Administration have rushed to direct rescue work there.

The accident took place around 3:00 a.m. Thursday in the Nuan'erhe Colliery of Chengde city with 51 miners working underground.

Rescue work is still going on. It remains unknown whether the trapped miners are still alive.

Director Li Yizhong, deputy director Liang Jiakun of the National Bureau of Production Safety Supervision and Administration and other senior production safety officials were all present at the accident site. They demanded immediate suspension of production in any coal mines with "hidden dangers."

Source: Xinhua