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Coal Mines to Be Closed in China's Jiangsu Province
In the wake of the fatal coal mine explosion in Xuzhou of Jiangsu province Sunday, the province will close all its small coal mines in an effort to avoid more accidents.
Governor Ji Yunshi announced in Xuzhou Tuesday that all the 30 small coal mines in Xuzhou that have not met safety standards will be closed. Seven were already shut down Tuesday.
Ji urged that a strengthened inspection be carried out in factories to ensure safe production, and officials who approve illegal industrial operations by taking bribes must be punished.
The accident Sunday has trapped 105 miners underground and claimed 46 live to date.
By early Tuesday morning, the bodies of 46 victims had been found at the mine, rescuers said.
According to sources, one miner escaped the explosion because he did not go down the shaft Sunday.
The sources said there is little possibility that any of the trapped miners are still alive.
The explosion may have been caused by an explosion in the coal layer or a gas explosion in the shaft, the sources added.
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