Coal mine accident in Henan province, China killed 35 people and blocked 44 others in the pit, September 8, 2009.

The blast occurred at about 1 a.m. local time in the coalmine in Pingdingshan city, Associated Press reports. At the explosion moment 93 miners were in the pit, of which 14 managed to escape the mine, China’s State Administration of Work Safety reported.

According to the local mass media, the mine operation had been temporary suspended for repair, coal mining was banned. Under the preliminary data, gas explosion caused the accident.