Death toll from a coal mine gas blast in northwest China's Shaanxi Province rose to 32 as the body of the
last missing miner was found on Tuesday morning, according to the
rescue headquarters.
Bad ventilation, no gas monitoring system and too few gas
inspectors were blamed for the deadly accident, said experts from
the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, adding the one gas
inspector was not on duty as he returned to the ground 20 minutes
before the explosion.
The gas explosion rocked Wayaobao Township Coal Mine in Zichang
County of Yan'an City on Saturday afternoon, when 39 miners were
working underground. Seven miners managed to escape to the
ground.
Twenty-eight bodies have been identified and compensation is
being distributed to the families of the victims.
The local police have detained the owner of the coal mine and
other managerial staff.
Wayaobao Township Coal Mine is a legal, privately-invested coal
production entity with an annual production capacity of 30,000
tons.
After the gas explosion, Shaanxi provincial government urged a
checkup on all the province's coal mines in a bid to prevent
possible accidents.?
(Xinhua News Agency May 3, 2006)
