Thirteen die in North China coal mine blaze

	Thirteen die in North China coal mine blaze (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-10-17 15:53 HECUN TOWN, Hebei Province -- Thirteen miners died in a coal mine fire in north China's Hebei Province and another 22 injured are being treated in hospital. The blaze started at 11:50 a.m. Monday when 63 miners were working underground in the Longxin Coal Mine in Hecun Township of Handan City. Doctors believe the dead were suffocated or poisoned by gas. The other 50 were rescued and 22 were receiving medical treatment, with one person in a critical condition, said Ran Longwu, vice-president of the Handan No. 4 Hospital. The blazed is believed to have started with an electrical fire, but investigations are continuing. The Longxin Coal Mine is collectively owned and most of the miners are locals.