A gas explosion in a Chinese coal mine on Monday killed at least 34 people, the official Xinhua news agency reported, just the latest accident to hit the world's deadliest mining industry.

The blast occurred in a mine near Hebi, a city in the central province of Henan, Xinhua said, but gave no further details.

More than 2,700 people died in floods, explosions, collapses and other mining accidents in the first half of this year.

The huge industry supplies about three-quarters of the country's energy and is straining to keep pace with voracious demand from a rapidly growing economy.

PHOTO CAPTION

Coal miners at work in China's western Shaanxi province. (AFP)