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N. China coal mine accident kills 4, injures 13

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-10 13:40

SHIJIAZHUANG -- Four workers were killed and 13 others injured after a conveyer belt snapped at a coal mine in north China's Hebei Province on Monday morning.

The belt, used to transport miners in and out of the pit, suddenly snapped at about 6:30 a.m. at the Wannian Coal Mine of Jizhong Energy Group Co., Ltd. in Handan City, said a spokesman of the provincial work safety bureau.

Four people died at the scene and 13 others have been hospitalized.

The accident occurred during a shift change, which made it difficult to determine the specific number of workers on the belt at the time, the spokesman said, without giving any further details.

An official investigation into the cause of the accident has begun.