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The explosion occurred at Baishanping Coal Mine in Hunan province, run by the Baisha Coal-Produced Electricity Group, Xinhua News Agency reported. The accident is currently under investigation.
The accident follows a fire in a northern Chinese mine the day after Christmas, which killed 26 miners.
Investigators said cables in the mine caught fire, which ignited a larger blaze 8 a.m. on December 26 in the Hebei province mine, Xinhua said.
At the time of the fire, 36 workers were underground, but 10 were able to escape. Rescue workers have recovered the 26 bodies.
