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Official sacked over coal mine blast as rescue continues

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-25 15:10

An official has been sacked after a coal mine gas blast killed 11 construction workers in North China's Shanxi province. Rescuers were still searching for three missing workers Tuesday.

The explosion took place at the entrance of a mine shaft under construction at the Xingguang Coal Industry Co Ltd in Heshun county in Jinzhong city about 11:10 am Monday, as 16 people were working in the area. Two, who were more than 100 meters from the entrance, escaped unharmed.

It is unknown how many workers were working underground at the time.

Guo Xingchuan, a county head assistant in charge of the coal sector, was dismissed from his post Monday night, a government spokesman said Tuesday.

Rescuers at the shaft have cleared away debris near the entrance and forced a 300-meter-long pipe into the shaft to increase ventilation, in preparation for an underground search.

Related readings:  Death toll rises to six in Xinjiang coal mine gas blast  Six dead in gas blast at SW China coal mine  10 killed in SW China coal mine gas blast  Three officials ousted following fatal gas blast

The 16 workers came from a coal mine construction company in neighboring Hebei province, rescuers said. The shaft was being renovated and enlarged, and had yet to be put into operation.

The mine, containing a reserve of 203 million tons, belongs to the Shanxi International Electricity Group Limited Company, which began approved infrastructure construction in May to increase annual production to 1.2 million tons from the present 300,000 tons.

Work safety authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.