Relatives of victims of a gas explosion at a mine in north-eastern China scuffled with police and demanded answers from the owners today as state media put the toll from the country's latest mine disaster at 104.
The explosion at the mine in Hegang in the province of Heilongjiang erupted in the early hours of Saturday when more than 500 miners were underground, though most were rescued.
A dozen women, relatives of the dead, braved the freezing temperatures today to take their complaints about a lack of information to the mine's entrance, where they argued and scuffled with police and mine security.
Some of the women were taken inside the mine compound, while others were driven away in a large white van.
Police moved along bystanders, and formed a line with mine security guards inside the entrance to prevent unwanted visitors.
Men who declined to identify themselves also tried to stop reporters speaking to the women, putting their hands in front of cameras.
The protest came a day after another 11 miners were killed in a explosion at a mine in the southern province of Hunan, Xinhua said. Three were still missing in the latest accident in the world's deadliest major coal mining industry.
Reuters