National

Regional

Taiwan, HK, Macao

Special Coverage

Focus

Society

Profiles

Death toll rises to 78 in N China mine blast

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-27 18:36

TAIYUAN -- The body of the last missing miner from the Tunlan Coal Mine explosion in north China's Shanxi Province was found  Friday afternoon. The discovery brings the death toll to 78, rescue headquarters said.

Rescuers carry a miner out of a coal shaft hit by a gas explosion in Gujiao, Shanxi province, yesterday. [China Daily]

Related readings:  Negligence blamed in mine blast  3 officials sacked over mine blast  China sets up investigation team on mine blast  Death toll rises to 77 in coal mine blast

In all, there were 436 people working underground when an explosion ripped through a coal mine owned by the Shanxi Coking Coal Group in Gujiao City at around 2:20 a.m. Sunday. Gujiao is about 50 km away from Taiyuan, the provincial capital.

A total of 358 people survived the blast, including 114 injured who remain in the hospital. Most had carbon monoxide poisoning, but described as being out of danger.

Three coal mine officials have been removed from their posts and the governor of Shanxi Province, Wang Jun, on Tuesday made an apology to victims and their families.

The State Council has set up an investigation team Tuesday to probe into the disaster.