  [cdn-nucl-l] " Chinese coal miners die in blast "   Monday, 11
July, 2005  Chinese coal miners die in blast  At least 22 miners
have been killed and some 60 more are missing after a gas
explosion in a coal mine in western China, state media has
reported.  The blast happened at 0230 (1830 GMT) in the Shenlong
coal mine in the western region of Xinjiang, the official Xinhua
news agency said.  At least 87 miners were underground at the
time. Five have been rescued.  China's coal mines are reputed to
be the world's deadliest - more than 1,000 people have died in
them this year.  Xinhua said the cause of the explosion was
still being investigated.  An official from the provincial work
safety bureau told the AP news agency that the death toll was
expected to rise.  Correspondents say increasing demand for
energy has put pressure on mines in China to provide coal
faster.