66 still trapped, as China mine blast toll hits 42

A gas explosion at a coal mine in northeastern China has left at least 42 people dead, and around 66 others trapped under the rubble.

The blast took place early on Saturday in the 500-meter deep Xinxing mine in Heilongjiang Province, said a statement by the State Administration of Work Safety. Authorities say the death toll could further increase.

More than 520 people have been working in the mine in Hegang city at the time of the explosion, Xinhua reported.

So far about 389 people have managed to exit the mine, while the rescue operation is still ongoing. Some 48 mines were injured, suffering from burns, fractures and carbon monoxide poisoning.

China's coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world, with unregulated operations accounting for almost 80 percent of the accidents in the country's 16,000 mines. Safety standards are often ignored in quest for more profits.

Last year, more than three thousand people were killed in mine accidents in China.