Illegality, obsolete technology behind fatal colliery blast

This week's fatal colliery blast that has left 25 miners trapped underground in east China's Anhui province was caused by mining in unsafe, unapproved areas and use of obsolete technology, local authorities said on Wednesday.

Wu Zhiyong, deputy chief of the Xiejiaji District Work Safety Supervision Department of Huainan city, also said that the Huainan municipal government had ordered all local coal mines to suspend production in the flood season, but the Dongfang Coal Mine did not obey the order.

With the gas content in the shaft approaching explosion point, a situation worsened by the seriously damaged ventilation system and power supply facilities, rescue work has proved very difficult, according to the rescue headquarters.

Two bodies have been retrieved so far while another 25 miners remain missing after the blast at 3:58 am on Tuesday, when 39 people were in the shaft.

Twelve were lifted out of the mine after the blast. One of them was hospitalized after suffering burns.

The licensed mine is privately owned and has an annual capacity of 90,000 tonnes.