The number of miners killed at a coal mine explosion in Liaoning Province has increased to 27 after rescue work ended and rescuers recovered the bodies of five missing miners.
The gas blast took place on the morning of 28 June in the Wulong Coal mine of Fuxin Mining Industrial Group. Thirty six other miners were injured and five of them are being treated at the General Hospital of the Fuxin Mining Industrial Group and Ping'an Hospital in Fuxin City. The accident occurred 900 metres underground, according to Xinhua.
The Wulong Coal Mine was established in 1957 and it produces more than two million tonnes of coal each year. The entire mining group has stopped operation for work safety checkups, the report said.
In February last year, 214 miners were killed after a gas explosion occurred at Sunjiawan Coal Mine, which was also owned by the Fuxin Mining Industrial Group.
Source: Xinhua News Agency (29 June 2006)
29 June 2006