At least 25 dead after fire in Chinese coal mining company building

Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that at least 25 people have died in a fire in the building of a coal mining company in the north-west Chinese province of Shanxi on Thursday.

More than 60 people were evacuated during the rescue efforts, which were still underway. The exact cause of the fire was initially unclear.

Chinese state media reported that the fire broke out on the second floor of a five-storey building in the city of Lyuliang early in the morning. The exact number of victims is still being determined, according to authorities.

The building belonged to the Yongju coal company.

Working conditions in China's mining industry are considered extremely dangerous. According to official figures, there were 518 accidents in mines last year. The world's second largest economy is a major global producer of coal.