Eruption death count

The death toll has risen to seven and 12 others are still trapped underground after a sudden colliery coal and gas eruption in East China's Jiangxi Province on Saturday night, rescuers said yesterday afternoon. The accident occurred at 11:45 pm on Saturday at the Jianxin Colliery based in Shangtang Township of Fengcheng when 283 miners were working underground. Twenty-one of them, 14 gas drainage workers and seven electricians, were at the tunneling working surface when the eruption occurred. As of 8 am on Sunday, 264 people, including two injured, had escaped, with one reported dead and 18 others trapped in the pit.

(China Daily 10/15/2007 page3)