(Raises death toll) BEIJING, March 29 (Reuters) - A gas explosion has killed 26 Chinese miners, Xinhua reported on Thursday, the latest in a grim series of colliery accidents as the country struggles to meet demand for fuel. The accident happened on Wednesday when 106 miners were working underground. Eighty escaped, including one who was severely injured, Xinhua said. It was the second gas explosion in the northern province of Shanxi in 10 days. Twenty-one miners were killed in a blast on March 18. The mine had reported an annual output capacity of 150,000 tonnes but its licence had expired before the accident, Xinhua said, citing local safety authorities. The mine owner, manager and others had been taken into custody, Xinhua said. "Preliminary investigation showed working conditions in the mine were very unsafe and chaotic before the accident occurred," it said, quoting police. China has the world's deadliest coal mines. Last year, 4,746 workers were killed in mine blasts, floods and collapses as collieries pushed production beyond safety limits to meet demand from the booming economy.
