The death toll in an oil tank blast in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region rose to seven, as two workers previously reported as missing were confirmed dead on Thursday.

Zhou Qing, a spokesman with the government of Fukang City, said the only worker injured in the accident was recovering in hospital.

He added the families of the deceased have each received the standard compensation for such deaths of 200,000 yuan (29,154 US dollars).

Investigators found the workers had violated rules by starting a fire on a 2,000 cubic meter tank holding coal tar, triggering an explosion at the Fukang Iron Coke Co. Ltd. in Fukang City on June 25.

Dozens of firefighters put out the fire about three hours after the blast. Eight other tanks nearby were not affected.

Local authorities have launched a general overhaul of the safety operation at businesses involving dangerous chemicals.

Established in 2004, the private Fukang company had an annual production capacity of 50,000 tonnes of tar.

Fukang's safety production license was revoked after the accident and its production halted. Its bank accounts were also frozen.

Coal tar is a viscous black liquid used in roofing, waterproofing and insulating materials.

(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2008)