Death toll rises to 54 in central China colliery blast; 25 remain trapped
17:53, 15 September 2009
ZHENGZHOU. September 15. KAZINFORM. The death toll from a coal mine gas explosion in central China's Henan Province rose to 54 Tuesday morning, rescue headquarters said; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
Rescue work is continuing, but is being hampered by heavy damage to narrow, ill-equipped mine shafts.
The blast occurred about 1 a.m. last Tuesday in the Pingdingshan Coal Group's Xinhua No. 4 pit in the Xinhua District of Pingdingshan City.
A total of 93 people were working underground at the time of the blast, of whom 14 managed to escape; Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.news.xinhuanet.com for full version.