Eighteen people have been killed and three injured in an explosion at a mine in central China, according to an official. This is the latest deadly accident to hit the nation's coal industry.

The tragedy struck Friday afternoon at a mine in Chenzhou city in Hunan province when a detonator and explosives warehouse blew up, an employee at the city's coal industry bureau, who would only give his surname Li, told AFP.

"Up to this morning we have confirmed there are 18 dead and three injured," he said.

Li said the victims were in dormitories next to the warehouse at the time of the explosion.

According to the official Xinhua news agency, a further two people were missing and police have said the detonators and explosives might have been illegally bought and stored.

China's coal mines are notoriously dangerous. Official figures show that more than 3200 workers died in collieries last year, but independent observers say the actual figure could be much higher as many accidents are covered up.

AFP

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