6 trapped in N China coal mine gas blast

Six people are trapped after a coal mine gas blast in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local authorities said Thursday.

The accident occurred around 2 a.m. Thursday in a coal mine in the Yanggeleng mining area in Baotou City, sources with the government of Donghe district of Baotou said. It added that mining there is illegal.

A total of eight people were working at the mine when the accident happened.

One escaped without injuries, with rescuers pulling out one miner, who was injured and sent to a nearby hospital. The miner's condition is not known.

Rescuers are trying to reach the other six who remain trapped in the mine, according to sources.

Police are looking into the cause of the accident. Those who are related to the illegal mining are under police custody, the sources said.