Rescuers have recovered the remaining eight bodies from a north China coal mine after a high-pressure gas explosion a week ago, bringing the death toll to 17.

The rescue operation ended after the last body was recovered at 9:54 PM on Thursday, said Xu Kai, a spokesman from the publicity department of Fengfeng Mining Group in Handan, Hebei Province, on Friday.

Families of the victims had been negotiating compensation with the company and local government, said Xu.

National standards stipulate that each dead miner's family is entitled to at least 200,000 yuan.

A huge quantity of highly-toxic gas burst into the shafts at about 2:23 AM on April 19 at Dashucun Coal Mine in Handan, when 313 people were working underground. Only 296 managed to escape.

Survivors described coal lumps flying into the shaft like a "black flood". Rescuers estimated about 1,200 tons of coal had blocked the tunnel.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway, but Xu said the drills may have struck a high-pressure gas pocket.

Dashucun Coal Mine is a state-owned colliery with an annual production capacity of 900,000 tons per year. It went into operation in January 2004.

(US$1 equals to 7.71 yuan)

(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2007)