JINCHENG, Shanxi, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers have found the body of the last miner who was missing following a gas explosion in a coal mine in Jincheng, a city in Shanxi Province, bringing the death toll to 21.

    The rescuers found the body at 11:30 p.m. on Friday.

    The blast occurred at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Miaojiang Coal Mine, in Chengqu District of Jincheng City, about four hours' bus ride from the provincial capital Taiyuan, when 21 miners were working underground.

    Rescue work was delayed for 44 hours because the mine owner attempted to cover up the accident.

    Eleven people, including pit owner Wang Junjun, the contractor, the district work safety inspector and the official in charge of monitoring gas density, have been arrested for attempting to cover up the accident. Police are searching for another three people in connection with the allegations, according to local government sources.

    Ji Jianlong and Meng Shuangzhai, two Communist party officials in the village where the coal mine is located, have been dismissed in connection with the cover-up. Li Xulong, a vice head of the district, who has already been expelled from the district Party committee, is also facing removal from office, said the city authorities.

    An investigation team, headed by Liang Yunxiang, deputy director of Shanxi Coal Mine Safety Administration, was set up on Friday afternoon to ascertain the cause of the blast and those who should be held accountable.