The death toll from a gas explosion last week at a coal mine in central China has risen to 54, with 25 others still trapped, the government's work safety watchdog said Tuesday.
The State Administration of Work Safety said in a statement on its website that rescue efforts were continuing in the city of Pingdingshan in Henan province, but that the mine shafts had been damaged in the blast.
A total of 93 people were working in the mine at the time of the explosion last Tuesday. Fourteen managed to escape, officials said.
The official Xinhua news agency, citing rescuers, said hopes were fading for the 25 trapped miners, describing their chances for survival as "slim".
The accident prompted officials to call for a massive safety review in the city's 157 mines, which have been temporarily shut down.
China's coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world, with safety standards often ignored in the quest for profits and the drive to meet surging demand for coal — the source of about 70 percent of China's energy.
Official figures show that more than 3,200 workers died in collieries last year, but independent labour groups say the actual figure could be much higher, as many accidents are covered up in order to avoid costly mine shutdowns.
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