All 47 miners trapped in a colliery following a gas explosion in
north China's Shanxi Province since November 5 were
confirmed dead after rescuers discovered one last body early
Thursday.
Rescuers wrapped up an 11-day search-and-rescue operation
Thursday morning in the Jiaojiazhai Colliery in Xinzhou, a city in
the central northern part of the coal-rich province, said the
emergency rescue headquarters.
The rescue operation had been lengthy and difficult because of
high toxic gas density and serious cave-ins following the gas
explosion at 11:45 AM on November 5.
Altogether 393 miners were working in the pit when the blast
occurred with 346 escaping and 47 being trapped. Families of the
dead miners will be compensated 200,000 yuan (US$25,000) each.
Surging demand for winter coal has spurred production but also
caused a string of accidents in China. In another fatal accident
last Sunday 34 miners were killed when explosives illegally stored
in a shaft in Lingshi County caught fire.
(China.org.cn, Xinhua News Agency November 16, 2006)
