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According to the Xinhua Chinese government newsagency, a government spokesperson in Hancheng City, where the accident happened, said there were 15 victims from Hubei province, 10 from Shaanxi province, two from Shandong province and one from Hebei province.
Police said they had detained the coal mine's owner, Guo Yungang, after rescuers had retrieved the remains of five miners by 6:30am Sunday and the location of the 23 other bodies has been determined.
Rescuers said the underground fire is still raging, so rescuers cannot enter the shaft and monitoring equipment has been set up to monitor gases and oxygen concentrations. Run by Xinxin Mining, the mine was being extended.
Annual output at the mine was expected to rise to 90,000 tonnes from 30,000t on completion of the extension.
