Nineteen people were killed while two remain trapped underground after a roof collapse at a coal mine in northern China, state media reported. A total of 87 people were working underground in the Shaanxi province mine at the time of the accident on Saturday afternoon, official news agency Xinhua reported, citing local authorities. The search for the two trapped miners continues while 66 others have been airlifted to safety, Xinhua reported.

The cause of the accident at the site, run by Baiji Mining, is still under investigation. Deadly mining accidents are common in China, where the industry has a poor safety record despite efforts to improve coal production conditions and crack down on illegal mines.

In December last year, seven miners were killed and three others injured in an accident at a coal mine in China's southwest. In October, 21 miners died in eastern Shandong province after pressure inside a mine caused rocks to fracture and break, blocking the tunnel and trapping workers. Only one miner was rescued alive.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019