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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

141 still trapped in Chinese mine

Associated Press

BEIJING – Toxic gas hampered the search for 141 trapped coal miners Monday following an explosion in central China, and an official said their chances of survival were “extremely slight.” At least 25 people were confirmed dead.

High levels of carbon monoxide kept rescuers from reaching the site of Sunday’s disaster in Shaanxi province, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

An official at the Shaanxi coal mine safety bureau said hope was fading fast for the trapped miners.

“The rescue effort has been extremely difficult due to large concentrations of carbon monoxide,” said the official, who would give only his last name, Chen. “From my own experience the odds that the 141 still underground remain alive are extremely slight.”

Some 127 workers managed to escape the state-owned mine, Xinhua said, citing the State Bureau of Production Safety. Some 45 were hospitalized, 11 with serious injuries.