Hunt for trapped miners in wake of blast tragedy

Rescuers in China spent yesterday searching for 28 miners trapped in a coal mine after an explosion killed at least 19 people.

Police have detained the owners of the Xiaojiawan mine following Wednesday night’s blast in coal-rich Panzhihua city in the south-western province of Sichuan, and checked for safety violations.

There were 154 miners working at the mine when it exploded, and 107 survivors have been pulled to the surface, the State Administration of Work Safety said yesterday.

Rescuers recovered the bodies of 16 miners who died from carbon monoxide poisoning, state-run Central China Television said. Three other miners died in hospital after being rescued.

Related topics: