The death toll from a rain-triggered mud-rock flow in north China's Shanxi Province rose to 151 as of 1:00 PM on Thursday, with 35 injured, the local rescue headquarters said.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, has set up an accident investigation team, including officials from the State Administration of Work Safety, Shanxi provincial government, Supervision Ministry, Land and Resources Ministry and All China Federation of Trade Unions. Wang Jun, the State Administration of Work Safety director, was heading the team.

The accident occurred around 8 a.m. Monday in a pond holding waste ore dregs of the Tashan Mine in Xiangfen County, Linfen City, which was soaked by torrential rain.

Rescue work is underway and the specific number of people trapped underneath the rubble is still under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2008)