Death toll from a coal mine gas blast in northwest China's Shaanxi Province rose to 32 as the body of the last missing miner was found on Tuesday morning, according to the rescue headquarters.

Bad ventilation, no gas monitoring system and too few gas inspectors were blamed for the deadly accident, said experts from the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, adding the one gas inspector was not on duty as he returned to the ground 20 minutes before the explosion.

The gas explosion rocked Wayaobao Township Coal Mine in Zichang County of Yan'an City on Saturday afternoon, when 39 miners were working underground. Seven miners managed to escape to the ground.

Twenty-eight bodies have been identified and compensation is being distributed to the families of the victims.

The local police have detained the owner of the coal mine and other managerial staff.

Wayaobao Township Coal Mine is a legal, privately-invested coal production entity with an annual production capacity of 30,000 tons.

After the gas explosion, Shaanxi provincial government urged a checkup on all the province's coal mines in a bid to prevent possible accidents. 

(Xinhua News Agency May 3, 2006)