All-round investigations are being carried out these days into the 7.17 mines flooding accident at Nandan, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and with floods being pumped out at gathering speed, phased progress has been made to that end.
Led by Zhang Baoming, vice director of the Committee for SafeWork and director of Safework Supervision and Management Bureau of the State Council, the investigation team carried out probing work immediately after it arrived at the spot on August 9. They lay their focus on draining of the floods for rescuing the trapped. They see to it that a series of rescue measures be taken with local cadres of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. They insisted on directing the rescue work and pumping out the floods around the clock. The amount of floods pumped out of the mines has increased from a daily 18,000 cubic meters to over 40,000 cubic meters a day.
By 24 o'clock of August 14, the water levels in Lajiapo Mine and Longshan Mine have dropped to negative 140 meters, to a level approaching that of the accident spot. So far, 23 corpses have been found and moved up to the ground.
With full investigations carried out, related responsible personages who are suspected of perjury are put into custody and demanded that facts be roundly told. Facts and causes having been concealed are probed into. Meanwhile, on account of the actual situation, the team strengthened social security in Nandan and crackdown on secret clandestine forces and local bullies in a coordinated effort with security bodies and government of the autonomous region.
(People's Daily 08/16/2001)
