been killed in a blast at a coal mine in the central Chinese province of Shanxi, with reports  saying the death toll was higher. State news agency Xinhua reported that the gas explosion happened at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Qinyuan county, about 520 kilometres  (320 miles) southwest of Beijing, at around 7.30pm on Friday after the mine issued a carbon monoxide alert. There were 247 workers underground at the time of the blast. As of Saturday afternoon, 128 survivors were being treated in hospital, including two who were in a critical condition, while 35 others were able to return home. Two were missing.