The death toll from a gas explosion at a top state-owned coal mine in Dengfeng city, Henan Province, increased to 15 as of 12 February, Xinhua reported.

Twelve miners were confirmed dead on 10 February after the gas blast occurred when 56 miners were working underground at the Malingshan Coal Mine, owned by the Zhengzhou Coal Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. Rescuers found three more bodies on 12 February. Forty-one miners escaped from the accident.

According to a report of the South China Morning Post, Zhengzhou Coal was set up in 1958 and began as a local-government-controlled small coal mine. It expanded to become a state-owned enterprise in January 1996, thanks to China's increasing demand for energy resources.

The paper said the mine company has 6.4 billion yuan worth of assets and employs 45,000 workers. It has an annual production capacity of 10 million tonnes and it exports to Japan and other Asian countries, according to the company's website.

On 20 October 2004, 148 miners were killed after a gas explosion at the Daping Coal Mine in Xinmi City in Henan Province. The Daping Coal Mine is also owned by the Zhengzhou Coal Industry (Group) Co., Ltd.

Official statistics reported that 5,986 miners died in 2005, but the number of deaths in large coal mine accidents has been increasing in recent years.

Sources: Xinhua News Agency (11 February 2006, 12 February 2006), South China Morning Post (12 February 2006), China Labour Bulletin (13 February 2006)

13 February 2006