Toll in China's mine blast rises to 32

A gas explosion has killed 32 miners in a Chinese mine in Chifeng city in the Inner Mongolia region.

In this Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 photoa man takes a picture near a coal mine which has trapped dozens of workers in Heilongjiang Province. Source: AAP

Thirty-two miners have died in the second coal mine explosion in a week in China, state-run media reports.

The gas explosion hit the mine in Chifeng city in the Inner Mongolia region at midday on Saturday. Out of 181 miners working underground, 149 managed to get out and the rest died, official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The mine was operated by the Baoma Mining Co Ltd., Xinhua said.

News of the blast came just hours after 21 miners who were trapped for four days after an explosion hit their unlicensed coal mine were confirmed dead in northeast China's Heilongjiang province.

Four people were arrested in connection with that disaster.

China's mining industry has long been among the world's deadliest, and top work safety regulators have acknowledged that some mines cut corners on safety standards due to financial pressure.