Up to 115 dead after Chinese mine blast

The death toll in a northeastern China coal mine blast blamed on faulty ventilation has risen to 115, the official Xinhua News Agency reported today.

All of those who were in the mine during Thursday’s blast have now been accounted for and most bodies have been brought to the surface for cremation, Xinhua said.

Another 24 miners reportedly survived the blast and were being treated in hospital.

The explosion at the Chengzihe mine in Jixi, a city in Heilongjiang province, was the fourth worst in China’s history, Xinhua said.

Investigators were still trying to locate where the explosion started in order to determine the exact cause, Xinhua said, quoting Huang Yi, spokesman for the State Administration of Work Safety Supervision.

However, he said it was clear that the ventilation system had not been working properly and mine workers were not following proper safety standards, Huang said. Those responsible will suffer ‘‘stern punishment’’, he said.

State broadcaster China Central Television showed footage of investigators visiting mine offices and looking at engineering plans. Filthy, tired-looking miners were shown riding into the shaft in elevators.

The Chengzihe mine has 5,500 workers and produces 1.1 million tons of coal annually. Xinhua said some 25 members of the mine’s management had died in the blast, including its general manager.

Work has been suspended at nine other mines in Jixi following the accident.