Afghan coal mine explosion kills eleven: official

KABUL: An explosion at a coal mine in northern Afghanistan has killed 11 people, an official said Saturday.

The miners, who were all working at the site without government permission, died after an explosion triggered a collapse at the mine in Baghlan province on Friday night, said the provincial governor's spokesman Mahmood Haqmal.

"Late on Friday a number of local people were digging at a coal mine in the Chenarak area of Nehrin district when an explosion killed 11 workers," he said.

Police are at the scene working to recover the bodies.