Officials pinpoint cause of mine blast
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-14 11:19

Chinese authorities say a massive coal mine blast last month that killed 148 people was sparked after mine operators failed to realize that extending the mine's shaft would greatly increase its gas level, Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday.

Two rescuers carry the body of a dead miner out of the coal pit in the Daping Coal Mine in Central China's Henan Province October 21, 2004. The Chinese characters above the gate read "Safety Is the Utmost Priority." Some 148 miners were killed by the accident. [newsphoto]

Insufficient ventilation in the mine allowed the gas to build up and mix with fresh air, and the explosion was ignited by sparks from mine machinery, said the Xinhua report.

The explosion Oct. 20 at the Daping Mine in Henan province was the country's deadliest mine accident since 2000.

It occurred "deep in a complicated stratum" inside the mine, Xinhua said. When mine operators extended the shaft, gas rushed out, it added, citing Zhao Tiechui, deputy head of the State Administration of Production Safety.

Compensation work has been carried out smoothly. The social security center for Henan's coal industry signed contracts of compensation with families of all victims by Nov. 10, according to local government officials.

Among the 32 injured, 15 have already been discharged from hospital and the rest are in stable conditions.

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