The Associated Press
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press

WARSAW, Poland — Mine company officials say a methane gas explosion at a Polish coal mine has killed four miners and injured at least 19 others.

Borynia mine spokeswoman Agnieszka Warzycka says the blast occurred in a shaft about 2,950 feet underground near the town of Jastrzebie Zdroj.

She said Thursday that five of the injured are in serious condition.

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The blast late Wednesday was Poland's most serious mining accident since a November 2006 methane gas explosion killed 23 miners in the Halemba mine.