SHIJIAZHUANG, Dec. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- A colliery in Tangshan City, in north China's Hebei Province, had a blast Wednesday afternoon, leaving 96 miners missing.

    When the blast occurred at 3:30 p.m. in Liuguantun Colliery in Kaiping District of Tangshan City, 123 miners were working underground. By 7 p.m. Wednesday, 27 miners have escaped, and 96 others are still trapped in the coal pit. Rescuers are searching for the missing.

    Upon receiving a report on the tragedy, vice provincial governor Fu Shuangjian and leading officials with the provincial industrial safety watchdog rushed to the spot to direct rescue operation and organize investigation on the accident. Enditem