While there are no figures on the number of miners underground at the time of the accident, 49 miners were rescued by today with 20 escaping by themselves, according to Xinhua.

Henan Governor Guo Gengmao told the official news service there was still a chance those trapped underground might have survived the explosion.

Chinese underground coal mines are known for being gassy and Industrea is steadily increasing exports of gas drainage equipment to the country.

The Australian manufacturer has more than 50 of its gas drainage systems already operating at Chinese mines.

Coal Mines Technical Services aims to expand its products and services into China and has two Smartgas chromatographic systems in the country along with a mobile laboratory.

Queensland’s Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station, which markets its Camgas mine gas analysis system, started managing a mine safety demonstration project at the Xuandong coal mine, 150km from Beijing, last year.