National

Regional

Taiwan, HK, Macao

Special Coverage

Focus

Society

Profiles

Quarry blast kills 4 in C China, 3 missing

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-01 19:19

YICHANG, Hubei -- Rescuers have retrieved four bodies and are searching for three other workers missing in Tuesday's landslide triggered by a quarry explosion in central China's Hubei Province.

The accident occurred at about 7 p.m. at Diaoxiyan Quarry in Xingshan County, Yichang City, when seven workers were setting explosives, a spokesman with the county government said Wednesday.

Related readings:  SW China sand plant blast kills 6  Seven injured in workshop blast in SW China  11 workers killed in building blast  Twelve miners trapped in colliery blast in N. China

At least 50 rescuers searched through the night for the workers, all of whom were feared dead in the landslide, said Li Hong, an official with the county government.

"Rescuers used life detectors but found nothing," he said.

Li said overnight rain and rolling rocks made rescue work "very difficult ... the explosion also cut off mobile communications for several hours."

He said the rescue headquarters had sent for explosive removal and rescue specialists from Yichang City.

Police said they had detained two people, whose names were not released, in connection with the accident.

Four of the workers were natives of Hubei Province and the other three were from Chongqing Municipality.