At least 46 people died after an explosion struck a coal mine early Monday in Henan Province, the local government said.

A total of 72 miners were trapped after explosives went off at the powder magazine of the Xingdong No.2 Mine in Weidong District of Pingdingshan City at about 1:40 AM.

The municipal government of Pingdingshan confirmed that 26 miners have escaped but the rest 46 were killed.

The cause of the explosion is still unknown.

The low gas-concentration mine has an annual production capacity of 90,000 tonnes.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2010)