Seven miners were killed and eight others injured in a coal mine gas explosion in northeast China's Liaoning province on Thursday, local officials said on Friday.

The blast occurred at 1:40 PM. Thursday in the Qiupigou Coal Mine of Nanpiao Mining Administration in Huludao City of Liaoning province when 15 miners were working underground, said officials of local authorities.

Four of the eight were severely injured and still in hospital while the other four have been discharged, according to latest official resources.

One of the severely injured was burned in the respiratory tract and cannot speak now. Among other three, two were burned in the faces and hands while one was carbon dioxide toxicosis, said the hospital attached to Nianpiao Mining Administration.

The Qiupigou Coal Mine is a low gas coal mine built in 1958 with an annual production volume of 500,000 tons. Nanpiao Mining Administration bankrupted last year.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2007)