Over 150 trapped in flooded coal mine
Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily |
March 29, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
RESCUERS last night were trying to reach more than 150 construction workers trapped in a north China mine after flooding inundated a pit they were creating.
Investigations showed that 261 workers were in the pit of Wangjialing Coal Mine under construction in Shanxi Province when underground water gushed in at about 1:40pm.
The workers were creating a mine shaft when they drilled through to underground water by accident, initial investigation showed.
Rescuers lifted 108 of the workers safely to the ground, but 153 others were trapped in the shaft, according to the rescue headquarters.
"Most of the trapped are migrant workers from Shanxi, Hebei, Hunan and Guizhou provinces," a rescuer said.
Rescuers are struggling to save the trapped people while local authorities were trying to determine the cause of the accident.
President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao ordered local authorities to spare no effort in rescuing those trapped underground. Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang rushed to the site late yesterday to oversee the search and rescue operation.
The mine, sitting astride Xiangning County of Linfen City and Hejin City, covers about 180 square kilometers.
The mining zone boasts more than 2.3 billion tons of coal reserves, including nearly 1.04 billion tons of proven reserves, according to the company's official Website.
It is now under infrastructure construction and is expected to produce 6 million tons of coal annually once put into operation.
The mine, affiliated to the state-owned Huajin Coking Coal Co Ltd, is a major project approved by the provincial government.
Although China's mine safety record has improved in recent years, it is still the deadliest in the world, with blasts and other accidents common.
According to China's Work Safety Administration, 2,631 people died in coal mine accidents in 2009.
Many accidents were blamed on lax safety and poor training as companies scramble to feed the country's huge demand for coal.
Investigations showed that 261 workers were in the pit of Wangjialing Coal Mine under construction in Shanxi Province when underground water gushed in at about 1:40pm.
The workers were creating a mine shaft when they drilled through to underground water by accident, initial investigation showed.
Rescuers lifted 108 of the workers safely to the ground, but 153 others were trapped in the shaft, according to the rescue headquarters.
"Most of the trapped are migrant workers from Shanxi, Hebei, Hunan and Guizhou provinces," a rescuer said.
Rescuers are struggling to save the trapped people while local authorities were trying to determine the cause of the accident.
President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao ordered local authorities to spare no effort in rescuing those trapped underground. Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang rushed to the site late yesterday to oversee the search and rescue operation.
The mine, sitting astride Xiangning County of Linfen City and Hejin City, covers about 180 square kilometers.
The mining zone boasts more than 2.3 billion tons of coal reserves, including nearly 1.04 billion tons of proven reserves, according to the company's official Website.
It is now under infrastructure construction and is expected to produce 6 million tons of coal annually once put into operation.
The mine, affiliated to the state-owned Huajin Coking Coal Co Ltd, is a major project approved by the provincial government.
Although China's mine safety record has improved in recent years, it is still the deadliest in the world, with blasts and other accidents common.
According to China's Work Safety Administration, 2,631 people died in coal mine accidents in 2009.
Many accidents were blamed on lax safety and poor training as companies scramble to feed the country's huge demand for coal.
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