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

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 a.m..

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

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The cause of the explosion is still unknown.

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

Xinhua