A gas explosion and flooding at two different mines killed 16 people, injured 15 and left another 18 missing.

　　Around 5pm on Tuesday, a powerful explosion ripped through a coal mine in Huangling, Shaanxi Province. Later that day, 16 people were confirmed killed, including two rescuers. Fifteen others, including three rescue workers, were injured. Seven miners were still missing as of yesterday.

　　Eighty-six miners were working in the coal mine owned by Huangling Mining Company at the time of the mishap.

　　A high level of gas in the mine forced rescuers to suspend work. They proceeded to ventilate the mineshaft. But it takes at least three to four days to make the underground air safe for rescuers to enter, officials said.

　　Authorities were working on other rescue plans.

　　Meanwhile, Jia Zhibang, governor of Shaanxi, mobilized related departments to offer all-out rescue help. He ordered all coal mines in the northwestern province to conduct safety checks.

　　The mine opened in 2001. It produces 6 million tons of coal annually. It is among the top-100 coal mines in the country.

　　In a separate mishap, a copper mine was flooded in central China about 3am yesterday, trapping 11 workers.

　　The workers were 345 meters below the surface in Yangxin County, Hubei Province, when a platform, about 150 meters above, flooded. The four workers on the upper platform survived.

　　Rescue workers were draining water from the mine with 10 pumps yesterday.