'China gold mine fire traps 50; 200 escape'

A fire at a gold mine in eastern China has trapped at least 50 people underground, though 200 miners have been lifted to safety, state news agency Xinhua said today.

A fire at a gold mine in eastern China has trapped at least 50 people underground, though 200 miners have been lifted to safety, state news agency Xinhua said on Friday.

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The fire broke out late in the afternoon at the mine near Yantai city in Shandong province, Xinhua said in a brief report.

It was not clear if there were any casualties, Xinhua added, citing a government spokesman. It gave no further details.

China is frequently hit by mine disasters, mostly in coal mines, which kill hundreds of people every year.

The government has tried to improve safety but efforts have been hampered by the widespread ignoring of rules in the rush to extract natural resources to feed China's booming economy.