Death toll rises to 21 in northeast China coal mine gas explosion
20/8/2008 17:46
Chinese rescuers yesterday recovered 11 more bodies of miners killed in a
gas blast at a coal mine in northeast China, bringing the death toll to
21.
Faku County Government officials today said eight bodies were found
yesterday afternoon and three more that evening from the pit on the outskirts of
Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province.
Thirty-seven miners were caught in
the explosion, which happened at about 8:50 a.m. on Monday while 81 miners were
underground, said Lang Yaoyun, director of the provincial coal mine safety
bureau.
Fourteen miners were brought out of the pit late on Monday and taken
to hospital where two of them died.
Three of the injured were described as
critical and five were seriously hurt. They mostly sustained fractures, burns
and respiratory tract injuries, said Xu Chengben, county health bureau
director.
The search for the four miners still trapped is continuing. Rescue
workers, however, warned their hope of survival is slim.
The fully-registered
mine is a joint-stock company with an annual output of 100,000 tonnes.
Established in 1976, it has 450 staff.
Xinhua
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