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Beijing (ANTARA News / Reuters) - An explosion in the Henan province, the third largest coal producing China, killing 46 miners, Monday, while the other 26 survivors, Xinhua news agency said.

A number of 72 miners trapped after mine explosives exploded at No, 2 Xingdong in Weidong, Pingdingshan district, Henan province, he said.

Henan produces 208 million tons of coal in 2008, nearly 10 percent of production throughout the country.

Last year, 157 tunnels Pingdingshan ordered all coal mines in that district were closed, after an explosion at a coal mine that killed 35 people last September.

Xinhua said the low gas concentration in Xingdong mine has a capacity of 90 000 tonnes each year. It is not known what caused the explosives went off.

Thousands of people were killed by explosions in coal mines in China every year due to increased demand for energy and loose standards, although the government promised to close or combine many small mines or unsafe operation to help reduce the accident-the accident.

The number of people killed in coal mines dropped to 2631 people in 2009, an average of seven people a day, from 3215 the year 2008, according to official data.