Two people have been confirmed dead and five others are missing
following a colliery gas explosion in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Sunday, the local
government said.
Forty-one miners were working in the pit when the blast occurred
at 9:30 AM at Shi'ergou Mine in Daxian County, according to an
official with the provincial workplace safety bureau.
He said 34 people were rescued. "Five of them are injured and
are being treated at Dazhou Central Hospital."
Rescuers retrieved two dead bodies in the pit and were
continuing to search for the five missing miners, he said.
Investigators said Shi'ergou was a legal, fully registered
village-run mine with annual output of 30,000 tons.
Further investigation is underway.
(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2007)