At least 87 people are reported to have been killed in a gas explosion at a mine in China.

A report on state radio on Monday said 123 people were inside the mine in the eastern province of Anhui at the time of the explosion on November 13.

Two rescue workers were reported to have been killed trying to save miners trapped by the blast at the Panshan coal mine in Huainan city.

The report said 36 were rescued, two of whom were seriously injured.

Explosions and other accidents kill up to 10,000 Chinese miners a year, mainly at badly-run village pits.

The government has vowed to sack directors of mines in which accidents kill 10 or more people.

Earlier this month, a gas explosion killed 24 miners and left 15 missing in the south-western province of Sichuan.
 

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