Toll hits 21 in N. China coal mine blast (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-03-15 22:20 Twenty-one miners have now been confirmed dead in
the coal mine gas blast that occurred on Monday in Otog Banner in Ordos, north
China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The last body was recovered at around 3:25 p.m. on Wednesday. The 32-year-old
miner, Hu Jianzhong, came from Shangcai County in Henan and two of his brothers
were also killed in the blast, according to the local rescue headquarters.
The local government and departments are dealing with the appropriate
compensation.
The accident occurred at 3:25 a.m. on Monday while 34 miners were working
underground. Thirteen survived the accident, of which two were seriously
injured.
Li Zhongfu, director of the Rongsheng Colliery, is in police custody and the
coal mine's account and funds have been frozen. Li, aged 43, is a native of
Jixi, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.
The coal mine is privately-owned with 900,000 tons of annual production
capacity.
Investigators found the mine was being operated without a production safety
license.
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