Twenty-two miners were confirmed dead and 60 others remained missing in a coal mine gas blast taking place in the wee hours of Monday in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo: Xinhua)

URUMQI, July 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Twenty-two miners were confirmed dead and 60 others remained missing in a coal mine gas blast taking place in the wee hours of Monday in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

    The deaths included three dead miners whose bodies were lifted to the ground by rescue workers, said an official in charge of the rescue operation.

    The explosion happened around 2:30 a.m. in Shenlong Coal Mine of Fukang County when 87 miners were working beneath the shaft, said local sources.

    Rescue workers successfully rescued five miners.

    Rescue operation is still underway.

    The cause of the blast is also under investigation. Enditem