Mine death toll rises

The number of dead in China’s worst mining accident in two years rose to 106 after two more bodies were pulled out.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency said the search continued for the last two people missing under ground at the state-run Xinxing coal mine in Hegang city, Heilongjiang province.

China’s mine safety authorities have blamed crowded conditions, insufficient ventilation and slow rescue efforts for the high death toll in the gas explosion, which hit before dawn on Saturday when 528 miners were underground.