| China mine blast death toll rises |
| Monday, 23 November 2009 09:10 |
 Grieving relatives scuffled with police today as the death toll from China's worst mining disaster for almost two years rose to 104.Authorities said they feared another four workers trapped underground after a huge gas explosion at the mine on Saturday were already dead. Hundreds of rescue workers have been at the pit in Heilongjiang province, close to the Russian border, but no survivors have been found since the blast. Chinese state media reported today that safety staff knew gas had reached dangerous levels and were evacuating miners when the explosion – so powerful that it was felt 10km away – happened 500 metres below ground. |