NE China colliery blast deaths hit 36

CHUANGCHUN - The death toll from a coal mine gas explosion on March 29 in Northeast China's Jilin province has risen to 36 after seven more deaths were reported by local authorities on Saturday.

The accident occurred in Baishan city in Tonghua Mining Group's Babao Coal Mine.

Another explosion in the same mine on Monday left six people dead and four others injured. Another 11 miners remain missing.

So far, a total of 42 deaths has been reported in the two blasts.

Seven principals, including the chairman of Tonghua parent company Jilin Province Coal Industry Group, have been taken into custody by local police or placed under investigation.