Working in China's coal mines is becoming more dangerous a
report released by the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS)
states.
"There is a stronger demand for coal in the winter as it's the
major material for heating in most parts of China," said a SAWS
official. "For this reason coal mines try to produce more than they
can manage."
Three of the four serious incidents have occurred in north
China's Shanxi province, the country's major coal
production area, which is notorious for its frequent accidents.
A gas blast in a coal mine in Shanxi on November 12 killed 25
people and nine others remain missing.
Another accident in Shanxi on November 5 left 35 dead and 12
missing. Two-and-a-half hours earlier the monitoring system showed
the gas concentration was abnormal and there was a risk of
explosion, according to the SAWS. But the production managers
didn't take effective measures or order the miners to stop working,
it said.
The administration urged coal mines to strictly follow rules of
operation and local governments to crack down on illegal
operations.
(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2006)