China coal mine blast death toll rises to 20
15/03/2006 - 08:16:54The death toll from an explosion at a coal mine in northern China rose to 20 today as rescuers found one more body in the rubble of the collapsed shafts, the government has said.
One more miner remained trapped in the shaft following the blast at 4am local time on Monday (8pm Irish Time, Sunday) at the Rongsheng Coal Mine in Jiudonggou, a village in Inner Mongolia.
Thirty-four miners had been underground when the explosion occurred, triggering a cave-in that blocked escape routes.
Thirteen miners – most suffering burns – were rescued, the official Xinhua news agency said.
China’s coal mines are the world’s deadliest.
Every year, thousands of miners are killed in fires, floods and explosions.
