Another 61 bodies found after gas blast killing 166
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-04-24 11:26

Five months after a deadly gas explosion that killed 166 miners, rescuers have found another 61 dead bodies in Chenjiashan coal pits in Tongchuan, northwest China 's Shaanxi Province.

Rescuers are still searching for the remaining 70 dead bodies and investigation into the accident is continuing, officials with the Shaanxi Provincial Coal Mining Group told Xinhua Saturday.

They said the group has approved the resignation of An Jishuan, former director of Tongchuan Mining Administration. An, 55, requested resignation in March. He was put in charge of the administration in May 2001.

The group has appointed its former vice president Zhu Zhouqi as the new mining administrator.

Altogether 293 miners were working underground when the deadly blast occurred on Nov. 28, and only 127 miners who were working near the entrance were rescued. Rescuers found only 35 bodies right after the accident.

High density of toxic gas, visible fire beneath the shafts and four subsequent blasts halted the rescue operation for a while. Search for the victims resumed in mid February, the officials said.

The Chenjiashan coal mine is a state-owned company under the jurisdiction of the Tongchuan Mining Administration. It has more than 3,400 employees and produces 2.3 million tons of coal a year.

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