Zhao Tiechui, director of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety Supervision, has headed a team to central China's Henan Province to direct the rescue efforts of a coal mine gas explosion.

The administration also urged the provincial government to maintain the stability of the coal mine and make sure no more accidents occur during the rescue.

The provincial department of coal mine safety supervision must help the local government count the number of trapped miners and get relevant information of the mine, it required.

Supervision and inspection of coal mines must be strengthened to ensure the production safety of all the coal mines in the province in accordance with the regulations issued by the State Council, it said.

At least 34 miners were killed in a gas explosion in a coal mine in Hebi City, central China's Henan Province, early Monday morning.

The explosion occurred at 4:45 AM in a coal mine belonging to the Henan Hebi Coal (group) Company. By 3:20 PM, 34 people were found dead.

As a state-run mining group, Hebi is one of the key major state-owned enterprises in Henan. Its total assets reached 4.636 billion yuan (US$565 million) last year.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 4, 2005)