The death toll from Monday's coal mine blast in Fukang, Xinjiang region, climbed to 76 yesterday, with seven still missing.
Extensive over-production was blamed for the accident, which trapped 87 workers underground at the Shenlong mine.
Located 62km from the regional capital of Urumqi, the mine is privately run by the Fukang Shenlong Coal Mine Co and has an annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes.
But Xinhua quoted a mine safety official as saying the site had produced about 170,000 tonnes of coal in the first half of the year.
State Administration of Work Safety chief Li Yizhong said the missing miners' chances of survival were slim.
According to Tian Guangxiong, deputy chief engineer with Xinjiang's Coal Mine Work Safety Bureau, the seven missing miners were in an area with dangerous gas levels.