Society

Death toll rises to 31 in China coal mine gas leak

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-18 14:31

YUZHOU, Henan - The death toll from a coal mine gas leak in Central China's Henan province had risen to 31 as of Monday morning after four more bodies were found, the State Administration of Work Safety said.

Rescuers wait to go underground after a gas leak hit a coal mine causing at least 31 miners killed and six still trapped in Yuzhou city, Central China's Henan province, Oct 16, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

But six others are still trapped underground, the administration said in a statement.

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Rescuers said Sunday that chances of survival for the trapped miners were very slim, and they could be buried in coal dust.

More than 2,500 tons of coal dust smothered the pit after the gas leak, which hampered the rescue, said Du Bo, deputy chief of the rescue headquarters.

The gas outburst happened at 6:03 am Saturday when 276 miners were working underground in the mine in Yuzhou city. A total of 239 workers escaped but 21 were found dead and 16 were trapped.

An initial investigation showed that 173,500 cubic meters of gas leaked out in the accident.

Liu Wenbin, a deputy chief engineer of the company that owns the mine, was in the pit when the accident happened. He organized the escape.

"At around 6 am, I felt there was something wrong with the airflow in the shaft, and one of the team captains told me he also felt it and had already reported the problem," said Liu.

The mine is owned by Pingyu Coal & Electric Co Ltd, a company jointly established by four investors, including Zhong Ping Energy Chemical Group and China Power Investment Corp.