Hundreds of rescuers in northern China are battling to reach 21 miners trapped after a huge gas explosion early yesterday killed at least 87 of their colleagues.

But the prospects of finding more survivors of the deadliest blast in almost two years are rapidly diminishing. The workers are thought to be about a third of a mile underground in the pit in Heilongjiang province, near the Russian border.

China’s mining industry is the deadliest in the world, with more than 3,000 workers killed last year despite a massive safety drive that has slashed fatalities.

Full Story