The death toll from a coal mine blast in Shaanxi province has risen to 166, confirming one of the worst disasters to hit the country this year. (Xinhua Photo)

    

(Xinhua Photo)

    BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The death toll from a coal mine blast in Shaanxi province has risen to 166, confirming one of the worst disasters to hit the country this year.     

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Top leaders show concern over coal mine blast Number of trapped miners reduced to 166 170 remain trapped in Shaanxi coalmine gas explosion Gas incident strikes state-owned coalmine in Shaanxi

    More than 120 workers escaped Chenjiashan coal mine after the explosion, or what may have been back-to-back explosions. Many were seriously injured.

    High temperatures and a buildup of toxic gas hampered the rescue efforts at the mine where until Wednesday 65 workers had been known to have been killed, with 101 trapped and presumed dead.

    "In an environment with a high density of coal, gas and carbon monoxide, it's impossible that the miners still trapped underground can survive," Huo Shichang, head of the provincial coal mine industry administration, told a news conference earlier on Wednesday.

    Sunday's blast was the worst since a September 2000 explosion in southwestern Guizhou province killed 162 people. Enditem