32 dead in China colliery blast

Photo taken on Dec. 4, 2016 shows the site of a coal mine accident in Chifeng, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. There have been 17 fatalities and 10 people remain trapped following an explosion here on Saturday. (Photo/Xinhua)

Thirty-two people have been confirmed dead following an explosion at a coal mine in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Saturday.

The explosion happened around midday on Saturday at the Baoma Mining Co. Ltd. in the city of Chifeng. Investigation is being carried out. It has been confirmed to be a gas explosion accident.

There were a total of 181 people working underground at the time of the accident, and 149 workers managed to get above ground.

As of 4:00 a.m. Sunday, 268 policemen and 119 rescuers and medical staff had rushed to the accident site.