The landslide in Taqian, a town near the city of Leping, killed 24 and left four missing.

Sources said local villagers violated laws by blasting at the quarry, causing rocks to fall and bury all 37 workers at the site.

According to local sources, the quarry is privately owned and the two contractors in charge of the illegal work have been taken into custody.

Nearly 1,140 soldiers, civilians, policemen and technicians joined the rescue effort, which lasted three days.

An investigation team sent by the State Administration for the Supervision of Production Safety and the Ministry of Land and Resources arrived on Tuesday.

The team worked quickly to find the trapped workers and prevent further landslides.

Officials from the ministry and the administration yesterday ordered all illegal mines and quarries in the province shut down immediately to ensure safety.

In early July, an explosion rocked a private firecracker factory in Leping and killed three people.

(China Daily 08/03/2001)