Gas explosion kills 10 workers in underground coal mine in China CHANGSHA, China, June 3 (UPI) -- A gas explosion in an underground coal mine in central China killed 19 of the 39 workers in the shaft, local authorities said Monday. The blast occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday at Simachong coal mine in Shaodong County in Hunan province, Xinhua reported. An officer with the county publicity department said 29 of the 39 miners were lifted to safety. The state-run news agency said an investigation into the accident was under way.