China's latest coal mine disaster ended Saturday, after the remaining 45 survivors were pulled from underground 36 hours after an explosion.

The ordeal in the Qianqiu Coal Mine in the city of Sanmenxia began Thursday when a rock burst caused a cave-in. The explosion killed eight miners and trapped the 45 who were rescued. At least 14 miners managed to escape earlier.

A rock burst occurs when rock under high pressure suddenly releases its energy in a violent explosion. The cave-in took place shortly after a magnitude 2.9 earthquake struck the region.

Last Sunday, a gas explosion at a coal mine in Hunan province killed 29 workers.

China's coal mines are the deadliest in the world, because of poor compliance with safety standards. In 2010, China reported that 2,433 people died in coal mining accidents, although that number is an improvement over earlier years.