Nineteen miners trapped by a coal mine blast in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province were declared dead when two days of rescue operation ended Monday.

 

By noon, rescuers had found the bodies of during a search of the shafts where the workers were believed to have been, according to the rescue headquarters.

 

The explosion occurred at about 6 p.m. Saturday in Shunfa Coal Mine of Mudanjiang City when 21 miners were working underground. Two people were rescued and one body was found as of 8:50 AM Sunday, according to the provincial work safety administration.

 

An initial investigation showed operators of Shunfa Coal Mine, whose license had been suspended, illegally resumed production before the accident occurred.

 

The investigation also indicated the blast was possibly triggered by a high density of gas and dust in the shaft.

 

The mine's owner and legal representative were detained by local police.

 

Shunfa Coal Mine, built in 1996 and put into production in 1998, is a private mine with an annual production capacity of 40,000 tons.

 

So far, local coal mines have been ordered to evacuate all miners and suspend shaft operation. A further investigation into the accident was underway.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2008)