20 killed, 23 caught in coal mine
Source: Xinhua |
November 11, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
KILLING 20 miners and trapping another 23, a powerful gas burst in an illegally operated coal mine in southwest China yesterday brought about the second deadly Chinese coal mine disaster in a week, raising the alarm for mining safety in the country.
Ventilation machines are now pumping excessive methane gas out from the shaft while hundreds of rescuers take turns descending into the pit to find the trapped miners at the Sizhuang Coal Mine near the city of Qujing in Yunnan Province. Coal dust that was forced out of the shaft by the powerful burst covers the ground for 10 meters around the pit.
Local work-safety officials said the private mine, with an annual output capacity of 90,000 tons, was operating without a license, which was revoked a year ago.
A preliminary investigation showed the gas leak occurred at one platform inside the shaft but gas later spread to another platform, trapping a total of 43 miners in the two areas about 6:30am yesterday.
Instead of "gas leak," the Qujing government said earlier that a "gas explosion" had ripped through the mine.
A handful of tired-looking, dust-covered firemen coming out from the shaft said that they descended into the pit only to find 20 bodies. Rescuers took life detectors and toxic air monitors with them. The area was cordoned off by police while 30 ambulances parked inside.
Women sat on the ground wailing while other relatives of the miners paced anxiously nearby.
Luo Lin, director of the State Administration of Work Safety, ordered local authorities to do anything possible to save the trapped miners.
The mining industry has been a pillar of the local economy, making up 65 percent of its industrial output and contributing 54 percent to its GDP last year.
The accident was the second deadly disaster to hit China's mining sector in a week. Last Thursday, a rock collapse occurred in a coal mine in central China's Henan Province, triggered by a 2.9-magnitude earthquake. Eight miners were killed but 53 others, including 45 who had been trapped underground for 40 hours, were saved in a rescue.
Rescuers at the Sizhuang mine said they hoped a miracle could be repeated.
China relies heavily on coal to power its massive economy. Lured by huge energy demands, mine bosses have often been found forcing workers to labor in conditions defying safety rules ordered by the government.
Gas explosions, floods and fires have been frequent occurrences in China's coal mines, killing thousands each year. Official data show that more than 2,600 people died in mining accidents in 2009, despite a steady decline in mining deaths over the past few years amid strengthened safety measures and the closure of many illegal mines.
Ventilation machines are now pumping excessive methane gas out from the shaft while hundreds of rescuers take turns descending into the pit to find the trapped miners at the Sizhuang Coal Mine near the city of Qujing in Yunnan Province. Coal dust that was forced out of the shaft by the powerful burst covers the ground for 10 meters around the pit.
Local work-safety officials said the private mine, with an annual output capacity of 90,000 tons, was operating without a license, which was revoked a year ago.
A preliminary investigation showed the gas leak occurred at one platform inside the shaft but gas later spread to another platform, trapping a total of 43 miners in the two areas about 6:30am yesterday.
Instead of "gas leak," the Qujing government said earlier that a "gas explosion" had ripped through the mine.
A handful of tired-looking, dust-covered firemen coming out from the shaft said that they descended into the pit only to find 20 bodies. Rescuers took life detectors and toxic air monitors with them. The area was cordoned off by police while 30 ambulances parked inside.
Women sat on the ground wailing while other relatives of the miners paced anxiously nearby.
Luo Lin, director of the State Administration of Work Safety, ordered local authorities to do anything possible to save the trapped miners.
The mining industry has been a pillar of the local economy, making up 65 percent of its industrial output and contributing 54 percent to its GDP last year.
The accident was the second deadly disaster to hit China's mining sector in a week. Last Thursday, a rock collapse occurred in a coal mine in central China's Henan Province, triggered by a 2.9-magnitude earthquake. Eight miners were killed but 53 others, including 45 who had been trapped underground for 40 hours, were saved in a rescue.
Rescuers at the Sizhuang mine said they hoped a miracle could be repeated.
China relies heavily on coal to power its massive economy. Lured by huge energy demands, mine bosses have often been found forcing workers to labor in conditions defying safety rules ordered by the government.
Gas explosions, floods and fires have been frequent occurrences in China's coal mines, killing thousands each year. Official data show that more than 2,600 people died in mining accidents in 2009, despite a steady decline in mining deaths over the past few years amid strengthened safety measures and the closure of many illegal mines.
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