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All 33 miners trapped in China coal mine found dead

Jane Onyanga-Omara
USA TODAY
In this Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016 photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescuers mourn for victims at Jinshangou Coal Mine in Chongqing, southwest China.

All 33 miners who were trapped by Monday's gas explosion in southwestern China have been found dead, state media reported Wednesday.

All the bodies were recovered, and safety officials said they would punish those responsible for the incident. It took place at the privately run Jinshangou Coal Mine in the city of Chongqing. Two miners escaped, officials said.

China's State Administration of Work Safety ordered an investigation, and local officials ordered smaller mines to close temporarily, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency.

Mining accidents are common in China — almost 600 people died in such incidents last year, according to the State Administration of Work Safety.

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