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China sets up investigation team on mine blast

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-24 10:46

TAIYUAN -- The State Council, or China's cabinet, set up an investigation team Tuesday on Tunlan Coal Mine blast, which killed 74 people and made 114 others injured on Sunday in north China's Shanxi Province.

Three coal mine officials were removed from their posts after the accident, said a source from the State Administration of Work Safety Monday.

The officials were said to be the chief of state-owned Tunlan coal mine Yin Gencheng, the engineer-in-chief and a deputy chief in charge of work safety.

Related readings:  3 officials sacked over mine blast  Vice premier urges thorough probe into mine blast  Injured miners in mine blast out of danger  Rescue underway after coal mine blast in Shanxi

The accident occurred at around 2:20 a.m. Sunday, while 436 miners were working underground at the Tunlan Coal Mine of Shanxi Coking Coal Group in Gujiao City, about 50 km from Taiyuan, the provincial capital.

The blast also injured 114 miners, including 26 seriously. Most of the injured showed symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to rescuers.