In china Death toll rises to 87

China mine death toll rises to 87

By Stephen McDonell

Posted Sun Nov 22, 2009 3:43pm AEDT
Updated Sun Nov 22, 2009 4:32pm AEDT

The efforts of rescuers have been hampered by dense gas and collapsed tunnels. (Reuters: Aly Song)

The death toll from a coal mine explosion in north-east China has risen to 87.

According to Chinese state media, 21 other miners are still trapped underground.

Officials say hopes are fading of finding any more survivors in the country's latest coal mine disaster.

According to rescue official Zhang Fucheng, dense gas and collapsed tunnels have hampered rescue efforts.

The accident was caused yesterday by a huge underground gas explosion which rocked the Xinxing mine in Heilongjiang near the Russian border.

A total of 528 workers were in the mine at the time and hundreds escaped.

The mine's general manager and chief engineer have been sacked, according to Chinese media reports.

China has an appalling work safety record in mines, with hundreds of workers dying each year.