At least 203 killed, 22 injured in Liaoning coal mine blast
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-02-15 01:23

At least 203 miners were killed, 22 injured and 13 trapped in a coal mine gas explosion Monday afternoon in Fuxin, a city in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Zhang Yunfu, deputy general manager of the Fuxin coal industry group, said the work operation was normal Monday morning, and a coal mine quake took place at 2:50 p.m. at the No.3316 working face of Sunjiawan colliery of the Fuxin coal industry group.

Mineworkers gather at the mine entrance of the gas explosion site as rescue work goes on February 14, 2005. At least 203 workers have been confirmed dead, 22 injured and 13 missing in the coal mine blast in Fuxin, Liaoning Province.[Xinhua]

The gas blast occurred at about 3:00 p.m. about 242 meters underground.

Rescue operation began immediately and further investigation is underway.

Officials from the provincial government, Fuxin and other relevant departments have rushed to the mine.

The designed yearly production capacity of Sunjiawan colliery is 1.5 million tons.

Rescue Operation 

Chinese President Hu Jintao Monday asked local governments to spare no effort to save miners trapped in a coal mine by a gas explosion Monday in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice Premier Huang Ju also instructed local officials to rescue the victims, find out the cause of the accident and deal with the aftermath.

A work team led by State Councilor Hua Jianmin arrived at the accident site Tuesday morning. Hua and his team will try their best to find the missing, treat the injured, prepare compensationsfor the families of the victims.

About 180 rescuers have been sent for rescue work in the Sunjiawan colliery that was hit by a coal mine blast killing at least 203 miners Monday afternoon.

Sources with the Fuxin coal industry group said that 80 of the rescuers were from Fuxin coal industry group, and other 100 were sent by Shenyang, Nanpiao, Beipiao and Fushun coal administration bureaus within the province.

The sources said about 574 people were in the colliery Monday morning, 336 people went out of the colliery at 2 p.m., and there were 238 coal miners in the colliery when the disaster happened at3 p.m..

Zhang Wenyue, governor of Liaoning Province and two other vice governors rushed to the site immediately after the accident to supervise the rescue work.

No life danger for most injured

One is still in coma, and the other 21 are confirmed out of life danger, according to Zhang Yunfu, deputy general manager of the Fuxin coal industry group.

The Sunjiawan colliery blast in northeast China's Liaoning Province claimed 203 lives Monday, and left 13 trapped and 22 injured.

Zhang Yunfu estimated that the one in coma was caused by the shock wave of the blast, and his head struck at metals or stones.

A medical expert team, sent by the first hospital affiliated to the Chinese Medical Sciences University, is on its way from Shenyang, capital of the province, to the general hospital of the Fuxin coal industry group.

All the 22 injured are in the hospital, which is one of the best hospitals in Fuxin.

The Sunjiawan colliery, with 3,100 workers, belongs to the Fuxin Coal Industry Group, and has two coal mines. The Haizhou coal mine is the one where the disaster took place. The Haizhou coal mine has an annual output of 1.5 million tons.

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