China mine blast: 33 found dead by rescue workers

All 33 miners trapped after a blast at a Chinese mine have been found dead.

Rescuers work at Jinshangou Coal Mine in Laisu Town of Yongchuan District in Chongqing, southwest China, Oct. 31, 2016. Source: AAP

Chinese state media say all 33 coal miners trapped underground in a gas explosion earlier this week at the Jinshangou coal mine in China's Chongqing region have been found dead.

Two miners survived Monday's explosion but rescuers working around the clock found no others alive. All bodies have been recovered and rescuers were shown bowing their heads in memorial for the dead.

Gas explosions inside mines are often caused when a flame or electrical spark ignites gas leaking from the coal seam. Ventilation systems are supposed to prevent gas from becoming trapped.

The State Administration of Work Safety has ordered an investigation, saying those responsible must be strictly punished. Local officials in Chongqing also ordered smaller mines to shut down temporarily.

China's mining industry has long been among the world's deadliest.