Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, February 25, 2004
State Council team investigates NE China mine accident
The State Council, or the Chinese central government, on Wednesday dispatched an investigation team to Baixing coal mine in Jixi city of northeast China's Heilongjiang province, where an explosion has killed at least 32 miners.
The State Council, or the Chinese central government, on Wednesday dispatched an investigation team to Baixing coal mine in Jixi city of northeast China's Heilongjiang province, where an explosion has killed at least 32 miners.
The team, headed by Wang Dexue, deputy director of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety Supervision, comprises officials from the Ministry of Supervision, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and relevant provincial departments.
The State Council launches investigations into accidents in which 30 or more people die.
The blast occurred at 6:10 a.m. Monday when 37 miners were working in the shaft about 300 meters underground. Five miners arestill missing, but experts believe they have faint chance of survival.
The government on Tuesday asked all 331 coal pits and small mines in the city to halt operations until safety inspections had been carried out.