China hit by 2nd deadly mine blast in 2 days

Beijing - At least 11 people have been killed in the second deadly coal mine blast to hit China in two days.

The official Xinhua News Agency says 19 people were working in a mine in the southern province of Guizhou when the explosion ripped through the shaft early on Thursday. There was no immediate word on the condition of the eight survivors.

Xinhua says the cause of the blast is under investigation.

The disaster at the Songlin mine in the Guizhou town of Songhe follows one early Wednesday morning in the north-eastern province of Liaoning in which 26 miners were killed and dozens of others left with serious burns.

China's mines are the most dangerous in the world, although improved safety measures have considerably lowered death tolls in accidents.