Chinese Media Say 19 Have Been Killed in Coal Mine Accident

In this Nov. 4, 2015 photo, a Chinese flag stands in the breeze as a loader moves coal at a coal mine near Ordos in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Photo: Mark Schiefelbein / Associated Press

BEIJING — A late-night coal mine accident in northern China has killed 19 miners, Chinese state media reported Thursday.

The accident happened Wednesday night on an underground platform in a mine in Shuozhou city in Shanxi province, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Its brief report cited the Shanxi Datong Coal Mine Group, which runs the mine.

State broadcaster CCTV said there were 129 people underground when the accident happened. The others reached safety.

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China's mines had long been the world's deadliest, but safety improvements have reduced the number of deaths in recent years.

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Story: Associated Press