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Death toll rises to 30 in Chongqing mine accident
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-31 07:35

CHONGQING -- Death toll rose to 30 after five more bodies were recovered in a colliery gas burst Saturday in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, according to local coal mine safety authorities.

Death toll rises to 30 in Chongqing mine accident
A rescuer emerges from an underground rescue operation after a gas leak at the Tonghua Coal Mine in Anwen Town of Qijiang County, Chongqing Municipality, China, May 30, 2009. The death toll has risen to 30. [Xinhua]

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The accident happened around 11 a.m. at Tonghua Coal Mine in Anwen Town of Qijiang County, when 131 miners were working underground. One hundred and one miners were rescued.

Of the rescued, 59 miners were injured, including four in serious condition.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

The Tonghua Coal Mine, with a history of more than 50 years, is affiliated to the state-owned Songzao Mining Bureau of Chongqing. The colliery's designed production capacity is 300,000 tonnes per year, which now has been expanded to 600,000 tonnes.

Death toll rises to 30 in Chongqing mine accident
Scene of the accident. [Xinhua]