Death toll from mine gas leak climbs to 34
By Tao Yingcen |
November 14, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE death toll from a mine gas leak in southwest China's Yunnan Province has risen to 34, while another nine miners are still trapped, rescue headquarters said yesterday.
A gas leak hit an underground platform of the Sizhuang Coal Mine in Shizong County near the city of Qujing, last Thursday, trapping 43 miners.
Officials with the Yunnan Work Safety Administration said that 34 miners have been confirmed dead and the search continues, according to Qujing government spokesman Li Jianjun.
The mine was operating illegally as its license had been revoked last November. The provincial coal mine safety supervision bureau also ordered the mine to stop production in April.
Zhao Tiechui, vice director of the State Administration of Work Safety who rushed to the colliery last Friday, cornered Shizong County Governor Xu Hongbo, "What're you doing in supervising (the mine industry)?" when Xu said the mine was operating secretively after its license was revoked.
Xu stammered "I usually ..." but could not find a proper answer.
When Xu said the county government often sent inspectors to the mine, Zhao said they were only symbolic as they ended up finding nothing suspicious.
Police said the mine's boss has been detained while the vice director of the mine is being investigated for not performing his duty.
Workers tipped off that the vice mine director, Qi Guming, didn't lead the team to work underground as he was required to when the gas leak occurred about 6:30am last Thursday.
Instead, he admitted, he rushed underground after the accident and pretended to flee the scene, Li said.
Veteran miners said the mine operated as normal despite the shut-down notice. They were ordered to leave before inspecting officials arrived, they said. Once the inspectors left, business resumed, the Oriental Morning Post citing the miners.
A gas leak hit an underground platform of the Sizhuang Coal Mine in Shizong County near the city of Qujing, last Thursday, trapping 43 miners.
Officials with the Yunnan Work Safety Administration said that 34 miners have been confirmed dead and the search continues, according to Qujing government spokesman Li Jianjun.
The mine was operating illegally as its license had been revoked last November. The provincial coal mine safety supervision bureau also ordered the mine to stop production in April.
Zhao Tiechui, vice director of the State Administration of Work Safety who rushed to the colliery last Friday, cornered Shizong County Governor Xu Hongbo, "What're you doing in supervising (the mine industry)?" when Xu said the mine was operating secretively after its license was revoked.
Xu stammered "I usually ..." but could not find a proper answer.
When Xu said the county government often sent inspectors to the mine, Zhao said they were only symbolic as they ended up finding nothing suspicious.
Police said the mine's boss has been detained while the vice director of the mine is being investigated for not performing his duty.
Workers tipped off that the vice mine director, Qi Guming, didn't lead the team to work underground as he was required to when the gas leak occurred about 6:30am last Thursday.
Instead, he admitted, he rushed underground after the accident and pretended to flee the scene, Li said.
Veteran miners said the mine operated as normal despite the shut-down notice. They were ordered to leave before inspecting officials arrived, they said. Once the inspectors left, business resumed, the Oriental Morning Post citing the miners.
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