The death toll increased to 20 on Monday from Sunday's coal mine
explosion in Yuxian County, north Hebei
Province.
The gas blast occurred Sunday morning at the Longtai Coal Mine
in Yuxian when 29 miners were working underground. Only nine miners
escaped the disaster.
Among the dead was the deputy manager of the mine and two gas
technicians.
Officials with the provincial government have arrived at the
site to monitor rescue efforts and investigate the blast cause. The
county has closed all mines for safety check.
Built in 1999, the Longtai Coal Mine has an annual capacity of
50,000 tons.
(Xinhua News Agency December 8, 2003)