At least 25 miners have been killed, and 20 others are trapped underground, after a gas explosion in a coal mine in Anwen in southwestern China. At the time of the blast, 131 miners were at work, but most were able to escape to safety.

Many accidents occur in China's coal mines and 3,200 miners died while at work last year according to official figures. Independent observers believe many incidents are covered up and that the real death toll is far higher.