3 dead, 2 missing in China coal mine blast

URUMQI, China, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Three coal miners have been killed and two more were reported missing and presumed dead in a blast in far western China, officials said Saturday.

Rescuers had recovered three bodies 50 hours after the explosion at the Futong coal mine in the Uigher autonomous region and were pessimistic that the two remained missing were still alive, the state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.

Efforts to reach the missing men were complicated by dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide in the mine. Xinhua said the blast happened at 12:30 p.m. Thursday as 10 miners were repairing ventilation and water pipes.

Officials said five coal miners got out alive.