Zhengzhou (China), March 16 (IANS) Twenty-five people were killed when a fire broke out in a coalmine in central China, Xinhua reported Tuesday.

The accident occurred at 8.30 p.m. Monday in the main pit of Dongxing Coal Mining Co. in Xinmi, in Henan provincial capital of Zhengzhou.

Thirty-one miners were working underground at the time of the accident. Six miners were rescued at about 2 a.m. Tuesday, the Information Office of Zhengzhou city government said. The coalmine was operated illegally. Meanwhile, police have detained three managers of the coalmine.