A gas explosion at a coal mine in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has killed nine and left 45 miners missing, according to the State Administration of Work Safety.
The explosion, in the early hours of Tuesday, occurred in a privately-owned mine in Hegang, one of the major coal-producing cities in the province.
At the time of the accident 54 miners were at work, said An Yuanjie, an official with the administration.
Local officials and staff from the Hegang Mineral Bureau immediately rushed to the scene to organize rescue efforts, she said yesterday.
"Led by Zhang Baoming, the leader of the administration, a rescue team from the administration also arrived at the mine on Tuesday afternoon," An said. According to a report from China Central Television Station, firemen from the mineral bureau yesterday tried hard to extinguish a fire caused by the explosion.
"From 1:00 am on Tuesday to 10 am yesterday, more than 120 rescuers participated in the rescue, but the fire was still not put out," the report said.
Last night it was not clear if the flames were out or not. Rescuers said it was impossible to say how many, if any, miners might be found alive.
"Generally speaking, it is hard for miners to survive such a gas explosion," An said.
Coal mine accidents in China in the past four months have caused the deaths of more than 900 people. Gas explosions were the main reason for the tragedies, according to the administration.
(China Daily 05/10/2001)
