China mine blast toll: 68

2005-11-28 13:48

Beijing - An explosion at a state-run coal mine in China's remote northeast killed 68 workers and left another 79 trapped underground, the government said on Monday, as frantic rescue efforts were underway for survivors.

A total of 221 miners were underground when the cave-in occurred about 21:40 on Sunday at the Dongfeng coal mine, near Qitaihe city in Heilongjiang province, not far from the Russian border with Siberia.

Sixty-eight miners have been confirmed killed, 79 remained trapped and 74 were rescued, the State Administration for Work Safety said in a statement.

Xinhua news agency said a rescue team of 269 people were involved in the search for those still trapped, and that not all hope was lost.

"There are possibilities for the survival of other trapped miners," Xinhua said, citing officials at rescue headquarters.

Investigators said the accident was caused by a coal-dust explosion, which knocked out all the ventilation systems in the pit, according to Xinhua.

The government watchdog said it was investigating whether a coal-dust or gas explosion was to blame.

Although many of the accidents in China's coal industry occur in illegal mines, the work safety watchdog said the Dongfeng mine was fully licensed.

The accident came as 17 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in northern Hebei province since Thursday last week were still officially listed as missing, presumed dead.

China's mines are regarded as the most dangerous in the world, and the problem has worsened in recent years as demand for raw materials has escalated to help fuel the nation's rapid economic growth.

- AFP