A TOTAL of 115 people died in a gas explosion in Jixi of Heilongjiang Province on June 20. The number of dead is the fourth largest since 1949.

Investigators from the State Council concluded that over-standard gas and poor ventilation led to the disaster.

The gas explosion happened at 9:45am in the Chengzihe Mine, which is under the Jixi Mining Industry Company. A total of 139 people went to investigate the mine.

Zhao Wenlin, general manager of Jixi Mining Industry Group, is the highest official to die in a mining accident since 1949. Other victims of the explosion include the group's office director, Party secretary and director of Chengzihe Mine, and two local reporters.

According to reports, the 24 survivors of the disaster were working in places far from the explosion site. After two loud explosions, they left in blackness, and were rescued an hour later.

Liu Baolin, one of the 24, is a safety inspector in the mine. On that day, Liu and his colleagues entered the mine at 6:00am as they were expecting the arrival of officials.

More than three hours later, Liu prepared to leave the mine shaft when he heard the blasts from behind. A huge fire ball rushed towards him. Then he lost consciousness.

When Liu regained consciousness, he felt great pain. He climbed through the darkness and cried, "Is anyone still alive?" In the end, he found another two staff members, Li Zhongxia and Dong.

In the ward, when Li recalled being underground, his hands did not stop shaking. "My cap and lamp were broken, darkness surrounded me, strange noises sounded above my head," he said. "I am thankful to the rescue team for giving me a second chance at life."

According to reports, there are 5,500 staff in the Chengzihe Mine, which has a yearly output of 1.1 million tons. It is an old mine with 64 years of history. (Star News)