Three people are dead and three more are missing on Tuesday after a gas explosion and a second accident occurred at a coal mine in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The explosion occurred at 9:00 AM at Dihu coal mine, 40 km northeast of Shanshan County seat, trapping all of the five miners who were working underground, said the Xinjiang coal mine safety bureau.

Rescuers saved two of the five miners, but another accident trapped the rescuers and the remaining three workers.

Officials in Shanshan County said three people were dead as of 7:00 PM, three people were still missing, adding that the eight injured are in stable condition.

Rescue work continues.

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2009)