China coal mine blast leaves 12 missing

BEIJING (Reuters) - Twelve Chinese miners were missing on Friday after an explosion at their pit as hopes faded for 181 miners in an eastern province trapped underground for two weeks, state media said.

The blast ripped through the coal mine when workers were repairing the shaft in Baofeng in Henan province, Xinhua news agency said.

"Rescuers and police officers are struggling to get into the pit after clearing up the entrance," it said.

Hopes have dimmed for the 181 miners trapped in a state-owned colliery in Shandong province which flooded on August 17 though rescuers were still struggling to pump out water.

China's coal industry is the deadliest in the world, with 2,163 miners killed in 1,320 accidents in the first seven months of 2007.