At least 65 dead in Xinjiang coal mine explosion

Four found alive, 18 still missing after gas blast adds to nation's mining toll

At least 65 people were killed and further 18 remained missing after a gas blast at a coal mine in Xinjiang yesterday.

The explosion occurred at 2.40am in the Shenlong mine, 38km east of the city of Fukang , when 87 miners were working underground.

Only four people were found alive after the blast, officials with the State Administration of Work Safety said.

Rescuers at the scene said the blast destroyed the mine's ventilation system and the density of gas at the site was six times higher than normal, the China News Service reported.

Rescue crews took five hours to get the ventilation system working again.