XI'AN: Eighteen miners were killed on Tuesday, in a coal mine collapse in Shenmu county, northwestern Shaanxi province, a local official said yesterday.

Liu Yuntao, director of the Shaanxi coal mine safety supervision bureau, told China Daily: "The accident occurred at the Huisen Liangshuijing coal mine at about 11:16 am, when 28 miners were working underground.

"Twelve men were evacuated, but 16 others were trapped underground," he said.