Nineteen miners trapped by a coal mine blast in northeast
China's Heilongjiang Province were declared dead when two days of
rescue operation ended Monday.
By noon, rescuers had found the bodies of during a search of the
shafts where the workers were believed to have been, according to
the rescue headquarters.
The explosion occurred at about 6 p.m. Saturday in Shunfa Coal
Mine of Mudanjiang City when 21 miners were working underground.
Two people were rescued and one body was found as of 8:50 AM
Sunday, according to the provincial work safety administration.
An initial investigation showed operators of Shunfa Coal Mine,
whose license had been suspended, illegally resumed production
before the accident occurred.
The investigation also indicated the blast was possibly
triggered by a high density of gas and dust in the shaft.
The mine's owner and legal representative were detained by local
police.
Shunfa Coal Mine, built in 1996 and put into production in 1998,
is a private mine with an annual production capacity of 40,000
tons.
So far, local coal mines have been ordered to evacuate all
miners and suspend shaft operation. A further investigation into
the accident was underway.
(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2008)