In sub-freezing temperatures rescuers are still looking out for trapped coal miners. They are searching for three miners who were trapped after the blast. The blast which took place in the Dongfeng coalmine in Northeast China, last Sunday, has killed 146 miners. This blast shows the shortcomings of the mining industry in spite of the safety crackdowns.

This incident has prompted the leaders to redefine the safety rules for mines in China, which are by far the deadliest in the world with thousands of fatilities occurring in fires and floods.  The police have blocked the road a few miles away from the incident with police officers and vehicles standing guard. Rescuers say that the chance of survival is less due to the highly poisonous gas in the mines. The rescue workers wore orange jumpers and carried respirators, were making their way throught the 12 degrees cold weather to the coal pit's mouth. The state media confirmed the survival of 72 mineworkers.

The paramilitary group got food and water for the rescue team. Officials stayed in the sixty police cars and buses to stay away from the biting cold. Officials said that 146 people were killed but the state media mentioned the death of two more people above the ground. However it is unknown if they were also miners. This mine disaster is a major setback to the Chinese government who are making efforts to improve the safety in the coal mining industry.

An old miner who lost his brother in the blast said that the mining industry is very corrupt. He said that the safety rules are not good. Often the local officials help the mine owners to play with the safety rules. He lost his second brother in another mine blast. The survivors are being hospitalised in the local hospital. Some people are yet to get news about their sons. Relatives waiting outside were approached by the reporters who were removed from the premises of the hospital.

After this incident, the Chinese government has asked for the creation of network of safety inspectors and has decided to reduce the working hours of the miners. This year about 12,000 coal mines were shut for safety inspections. Most of them have been asked to bring improvements in their facilities while others have been shut down permanently.

The Chinese government said that the explosion was due to the coal dust, which ignited. However, they did not speak about human error in the explosion. There have been numerous blasts in the town. Last year in May, an explosion killed 12 people while 17 people were killed in March this year.