The death toll from a mine accident in southern China rises to 74, while seven of the 114 rescued miners are reported to be in a critical condition.
The official Xinhua news agency said 436 miners were working underground on Sunday when a gas blast went off at a coalmine near the provincial capital of Shanxi province, Taiyuan.
The agency had earlier said 90 workers had been trapped underground, adding that rescue workers were hopeful as some had managed to contact family members on their mobile phones.
Most of the workers had escaped unharmed but 114 were hospitalized and seven remained in a critical condition.
China has a poor mining record with companies flouting safety regulations. In 2008 alone, nearly 3,000 people died in mining accidents.
The country is however, stepping up its standards and has overseen the closure of many small mines with safety hazards. A report in late January said the fatalities had dropped 15% in 2008 from the previous year.
Despite a government's drive to close thousands of small and unsafe mines, China's mining industry remains the world's deadliest.
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