Eight people were killed in a gas explosion in a small, illegally operated mine in the south-western province of Yunnan on 21 January, 2002. The blast occurred at 11:10 a.m., in the mine in Fuyuan County. All eight miners working in the shaft at the time were killed.

Another 25 people were confirmed dead and 10 injured in a gas explosion on 14 January, 2002, in an unlicensed coal pit in Wenshan County in Yunnan.

(Source: China's news agencies)

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Online: 2002-01-21