Coal mine accident kills 6 in north-west China

BEIJING (AFP) - Six miners have died in a coal mine accident in north-west China's restive Xinjiang region, according to the country's official Xinhua news agency.

The accident happened on Tuesday evening at the Hongxing Coal Mine in Changji City, the report quoted the region's mine safety supervisory agency as saying. The cause was not immediately known.

Rescuers have discovered six bodies, and six injured miners have been rushed to hospital for treatment, a mining official told the agency.

The privately-owned mine has an annual production capacity of 90,000 tonnes, the report added.