Rescuers have discovered the bodies of 147 trapped victims in a coal mine blast that happened 10:10 PM on Oct. 20 in central China's Henan Province, except for one that is still missing by press time.

The fatal gas explosion occurred at the Daping Coal Mine in Xinmi City when 446 miners were working underground. Only 298 managed to escape.

The coal mine is affixed to the Zhengzhou Coal Industry Corp. Group, or Zhengmei, which is a listed state-owned company based near Zhengzhou, the provincial capital. The accident was the most serious colliery tragedy so far this year.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2004)