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Eighteen miners were killed and one remained missing after a toxic gas leak at the Zhucun Coal Mine in Jiaozuo of Central China's Henan Province on Thursday, Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday.
The accident occurred at 11:16 pm when 39 miners were working down the pit belonging to the Jiaozuo Coal Mining Group, said rescue officials.
Twenty other miners were rescued uninjured from the ageing mine.
Hundreds of miners have been killed by gas explosions in recent years as a result of poor-quality equipment, low-level prevention efforts and management neglect.
Dozens of mine operators and officials responsible for these accidents have also been severely punished.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
(China Daily January 25, 2003)
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