Compensation totaling 24.8 million yuan (US$3.1 million) has been given to all the families of the victims of a coal mine blast in northern China over two months ago, which killed 108 miners and injured 29 others.

The money was paid by the management of the Liuguantun colliery in Hebei Province, in line with the rules and regulations on mine accidents, reported the rescue operation headquarters on Tuesday.

The victims include the 91 miners found dead during the initial rescue operation and 17 missing people who had no chance to survive.

The gas explosion happened at the Liuguantun Coal Mine in Kaiping District of Tangshan City at 3:30 PM on Dec. 7, when more than 100 miners were working there. The exact number is known.

Among the injured, 23 have recovered and six are still hospitalized.

The gas blast was an exceedingly grave accident caused by illegal operation, Li Yizhong, director of the State Administration of Work Safety, said.

The official has promised to take "resolute measures" to deal with the grim situation of coal mine safety, including enhancing supervision and standardizing coal mine resources.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2006)