(Forbes, Oct 29, 2006) Fourteen miners were killed by a coal mine blast early Saturday in western China, Xinhua news agency reported.

Rescuers had difficulty entering the shaft due to intense heat after the explosion near Miquan city in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, the news agency said.

Six other miners were injured in the blast, the report said, adding that investigations were underway.

The cause of the blast was not immediately known, Xihnua said.

Source:Forbes