Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, May 17, 2002
21 Missing in Coal Mine Accident in North China
Twenty one coal miners were missing in a recent coal mine accident at Fuyuan Coal Mine in Yuncheng, north China's Shanxi province. Local authorities tried to put a lid on the fatal accident until it was exposed by insiders.
Twenty one coal miners were missing in a recent coal mine accident at Fuyuan Coal Mine in Yuncheng, north China's Shanxi province. Local authorities tried to put a lid on the fatal accident until it was exposed by insiders.
Survivors said that on May 4, 23 coal miners were in the unlicensed mine which was flooded by water mixed with gas.
Only two of them successfully escaped with their lives, and the fate of the remaining 21 remains unknown.
A rescue operation began on May 7, but with little progress as the water level underground in the mine was as high as 40 meters.
China strengthens mine safety
The mine authorities failed to report the accident to the local government and the central government department in charge of production safety was unaware of it until it was disclosed by insiders.
It has been found that the mine has been operating illegally without a production license from the local government.
Shanxi provincial authorities has ordered the related departments to take all-out rescue measures for the missing.
China has closed down thousands of small coal mines in the past few years to regulate coal production and improve mining safety.
Small coal mines are usually run by private owners or local government, which usually ignore production safety regulations to stint one or two pennies.