China mine blast toll rises to 87
China: Death toll from the deadly coal mine blast in northeast
China’s Heilongjiang Province has risen to 87 as of 7 a.m. Sunday, said
local authorities.
Another 21 are still trapped in the shaft.
The blast happened at around 2:30 a.m. Saturday at the Xinxing Coal
Mine under the state-owned Heilongjiang Longmei Mining Holding Group’s
subsidiary in Hegang City. A total of 528 miners were working
underground, among whom 420 have escaped the accident, said staff with
the company.
More than 240 rescuers in 19 group have been sent into the shaft,
while more than 300 others were helping with the rescue work, said Zhang
Zhenlong, assistant chief engineer of the subsidiary.
“Fresh air from the outside could add more chances for survival of
the trapped miners.”
Xinhua |
