China mine blast claims 48 lives

Chinese mines have a terrible safety record

An explosion has killed 48 miners in eastern China, state media have reported.

The explosion at the state-owned Jianxin Coal Mine took place early on Friday morning.

All the bodies have now been recovered and an investigation into the cause of the blast is under way.

Explosions are common in China, where the mining industry has an appalling safety record. So far this year, 4,620 miners have died in accidents.