BEIJING, Aug 29: A gas explosion at a coal mine in southwest China has trapped 50 miners underground, state media said on Wednesday, in the latest mining disaster to hit the country.

The blast occurred late on Wednesday afternoon in Panzhihua city in Sichuan province, the official Xinhua news agency said. Rescue efforts were now under way, it added.

China's mines are known for being among the world's most deadly due to lax regulation, corruption and inefficiency, and accidents are common as safety is often neglected by bosses.—AFP