QITAIHE, Heilongjiang, Dec. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The death toll of the northeast China coal mine blast rose to 164 as of 8:00 a.m. Thursday, while seven others are still missing, rescuers said.

    The number includes 162 miners who were confirmed dead underground and two others who died in the ground generator room, sources with the coal mine said.

    The blast went off at 9:40 p.m. Sunday at the Dongfeng Coal Mine run by the Qitaihe branch of the Longmei Mining (Group) Co., Ltd. in Heilongjiang.

    The latest figures show that 242 miners were working underground when the blast occurred and 73 have been saved, 48 of whom are being hospitalized, according to the Longmei Group.

    Earlier reports said 221 miners were working underground when the blast occurred but a source with the provincial Bureau of work safety said the number was inaccurate. Some miners had registered for work but did not go down the shaft.

    Two yard men and three safety inspectors are under control for dereliction that caused confusion in numbering miners, Longmei said. Enditem