At least eighteen miners have died and five others missing after a leak of carbon monoxide gas at a coal mine in south-west of China.
One person was rescued from the Diaoshuidong mine in Chongqing municipality, Chinese state TV reported.
According to CCTV, the gas leak at the Diaoshuidong mine happened while workers were dismantling underground equipment. The mine had been closed for the previous two months.
Mining accidents in China are not uncommon and are often due to poorly enforced safety regulations.
In September, 16 workers were killed at another mine on the outskirts of Chongqing when a conveyor belt caught fire, producing high levels of carbon monoxide.
In December 2019, an explosion at a coal mine in Guizhou province, south-west China, killed at least 14 people.
An investigation has been launched into the incident, which happened on Friday.