Coal mine death toll rises to 36 in Shanxi Province
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-05-02 11:19

The body of the last miner trapped in a coal mine by a blast in Xixian county of north China's Shanxi Province was found at 19:45 Saturday.

The death toll of the coal mine blast reached 36.

There were 49 miners working underground when the gas explosion occurred around 7:40 a.m. Friday at the Liangjiahe Coal Mine in Xixian county, and 13 miners have been saved from the mine located in the outlying mountainous areas.

A medical team sent by the central government has arrived there and the investigation into the cause of the blast is underway.

Linfen city of Shanxi Province, where Xixian county is located, shut all coal mines after the blast.

The city government told Xinhua Saturday afternoon that 17 inspection teams have been sent to order all coal mines to stop mining.

The government will launch a checkup on their security facilities, the source said.

Five people responsible for the accident have been rigidly staked out and the owner has funded 3 million yuan for the rescue and compensation