Rescuers are gathered for leaving at a small coal mine belonging to Linli Coal Mining Co. Ltd. in Shizuishan City, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Oct. 11, 2016. Two workers remain missing but search efforts have been suspended two weeks after an explosion killed 18 people at the coal mine in Ningxia, rescuers said Tuesday. The on-site rescue headquarters decided not to continue the search efforts due to the increasing risk of secondary disasters and the fact that the two missing miners could not possibly have survived. (Xinhua/Li Ran)
YINCHUAN, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Two workers remain missing but search efforts have been suspended two weeks after an explosion killed 18 people at a coal mine in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, rescuers said Tuesday.
The explosion occurred at 7 a.m. on Sept. 27 while 20 miners were working underground at a small coal mine belonging to Linli Coal Mining Co. Ltd. in Shizuishan City.
Bodies of 18 miners had been recovered as of Sept. 29, but the other two miners remain missing. A total of 210 emergency vehicles and more than 3,000 rescuers joined the search for the missing miners over the past two weeks.
The on-site rescue headquarters decided not to continue the search efforts due to the increasing risk of secondary disasters and the fact that the two missing miners could not possibly have survived.
An initial investigation showed that the explosion was caused by illegal mining. Twelve people, including the company owner, deemed responsible for the disaster are in police custody pending further investigation.
