An investigation team has been set up to look into a coalmine explosion in north China's Shanxi Province which has killed sixty miners so far. Li Yizhong, director of the General Administration of Work Safety, was appointed head of the team.

The powerful explosion ripped through the Xishui Colliery at noon on Saturday. The colliery is located near Shuozhou city, a major coal-mining area of Shanxi province. The blast caused a wall to collapse in the neighboring Kangjiayao coal mine. Eight rescue teams are searching for nine miners who remain missing. Chinese President Hu Jintao, and Premier Wen Jiabao, have asked local governments to do their best to save the trapped miners.

The leaders also reminded rescuers to pay attention to their own safety. The victims' identities have all been confirmed. Officials in charge of compensation and funeral arrangements say each family will receive at least 200,000 yuan, or about 24,300 US dollars in compensation.

Source: cctv.com