Jilin Province's coal mine flooding on
Wednesday occurred after workers accidentally opened up a nearby
abandoned mine shaft, where 3,000 cubic meters of water had built
up, a local government official said yesterday.
"We often find large quantities of water in old or abandoned
coal mines. The sources include rain and underground water," said
Zhang Shaojiang, head of the work safety supervision administration
of Tonghua City.
The accident occurred at 5 AM?on Wednesday morning at the
Xiren Coal Mine in Wudaojiang Town when 19 miners were working
underground. Four of them escaped, the administration said.
Twenty-three hours later, eight others were rescued on Thursday
morning while efforts redoubled to reach the seven still trapped,
according to Zhang.
"We are worried about the safety of the seven miners. According
to those who were rescued, they have run into a small tunnel that
is more vulnerable to flooding," said Zhang.
With five pumps running at full speed, more than 1,200 cubic
meters of water had been pomped by 2 PM?Thursday.
"The water level underground is expected to become low enough at
noon on Friday for the rescuers to get access to the tunnel," said
Zhang.
With an annual production of 30,000 tons, the privately-owned
Xiren Coal Mine is a qualified coal mine, possessing all government
operating licenses. No accident is ever recorded to have happened
at the mine before.
Wednesday's gas poisoning at a mine in northern Shanxi Province that trapped 45 miners was
started by a fire, the cause of which remains unknown, a local
government official said yesterday.
The fire released carbon monoxide gas in the tunnel, said Zhang
Riming, head of the rescue headquarters for the accident, adding
that an investigation will determine the cause of the fire.
Zhang was previously quoted as saying the miners failed to carry
out their duties according to safety regulations and thus
accidentally opened up the gas pocket.
Forty-five miners were trapped when the incident occurred at the
Danangou Coal Mine in the city of Datong at noon on Wednesday.
Quick action resulted in all miners being swiftly rescued but one
died in hospital, said Zhang.
"Most of the miners have been discharged from hospital, but two
people who suffered serious poisoning are still in danger," he
said, adding that most of the miners are from the provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi.
With an annual production of 90,000 tons, the Danangou Coal Mine
is also fully licensed to operate but the mine owner, who was also
injured in the accident, is currently under the surveillance of the
local public security department.
(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2006)