BEIJING (AFP) — Rescue workers were Saturday forced to abandon a search for seven miners trapped after an explosion at a Chinese coal mine in which at least 27 died, state media said Saturday.
The rescue effort, already hampered by high levels of toxic gas in the mine, was abandoned completely after the workers found unused explosives and detonators in the shaft, the state Xinhua news agency said.
About 100 rescuers had been searching for survivors since the blast at the mine in Shanxi province, one of China's main coal-producing areas, on Friday morning.
They pulled 27 bodies from the mine early Saturday but the fate of the remaining seven was not known.
The blast was caused by explosives used in the extraction of coal, the mining company told local authorities.
Fifteen workers managed to escape by themselves after the explosion at the mine in Xiaoyi city, and nine were pulled out alive by rescuers.
China's coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world, with safety standards often ignored in the quest for profits and the drive to meet sky-rocketing Chinese demand for coal.
Police detained two mine bosses and two workers in charge of explosives, Xinhua said, citing a local official.
Zhao Tiechui, the local official in charge of coal mine safety, said initial investigations showed the explosives used were unsuitable for mining.
The company also illegally mined unapproved areas and had poor ventilation facilities, Zhao said.
Coal is the source of about 70 percent of China's energy.
Nearly 3,800 lives were lost in Chinese coal mines last year, down 20 percent from the year before, according to official figures.
However, many independent labour groups suspect the actual death toll is much higher, saying many accidents are covered up to prevent costly shutdowns and legal action.
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