Mine blast in China leaves 11 dead

An explosion at an iron ore mining project in China's northeastern province of Liaoning on Tuesday has left 11 dead and nine injured, state media said.

Benxi city officials have gone to the site to help with the rescue, CCTV said. Telephone calls made to the Huamei Group and the Benxi city government went unanswered.

China's government has taken stepsto try to improve the poor safety record at many mines.

In May, an explosion at a small coal mine in Hunan province killed two workers, with another three missing, the Hunan coal mine safety regulation bureau said.