21 Dead in China Coal Mine Fire

Chinese state media said 21 workers were killed when a fire broke out at a coal mine late Friday in the northeastern city of Jixi in Heilongjiang province.

Chinese state media said 21 workers were killed when a fire broke out at a coal mine late Friday in a northeastern city.

Rescue workers are searching for one other missing worker at the state-owned mine in Heilongjiang province's Jixi City, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Thirty-eight workers were in the mine shaft when the fire broke out, according to Xinhua, which said 16 people managed to escape.

Chinese state media said 21 workers were killed when a fire broke out at a coal mine late Friday in the northeastern city of Jixi in Heilongjiang province.

The report did not say how the fire started, but said it was brought under control.

Though safety standards are improving, mining-related accidents kill hundreds of people each year in China.

China is the world's largest consumer of coal and has a high number of small coal mines that often go unregulated.

WATCH: Related video of China mine fire

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21 Dead in China Coal Mine Fire