The recent rise in mining disasters is taking a toll on social stability.
HONG KONG -- Two deadly mine accidents recently occurring within 24 hours of each other in China's Henan province have taken 56 lives so far and put 13 local officials and mine owners under investigation. The death toll is expected to rise as hope to rescue the 36 workers trapped in the coal mine is turning dim.
The tragedy has brought a direct challenge to the central government in Beijing as recent rising demand for metals and coal in China has raised the number of mine accidents and casualties, which in turn has elevated social discontent with local officials who have backed illegal mine operations under the protection of the government.
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The first mine accident took place early Tuesday morning at Xinhua No. 4 pit in Pingdingshan, a coal city in central Henan province. There were 93 people working in the pit when gas blasted the mine, which was supposed to be in a production halt. Besides the 14 lucky ones who managed to escape, 79 others were trapped in the gas-filled mine. A rescue team organized by the central government has taken 43 dead bodies out of the mine as of Thursday morning, with the remaining 36 miners still trapped underground, according to China Daily. It is unlikely the trapped workers will survive the high levels of carbon monoxide. Further complicating the relief mission, the missing 36 workers were in four different extended zones, a member of the rescue team told China Daily.
About 18 hours after the Pingdingshan explosion, a fire broke out Tuesday night at an underground gold mine in Sanmenxia city, also in Henan Province. Apparently triggered by severed electric wires, the fire killed six of the 12 miners while the other half fled above the ground. Seven out of the eight rescuers sent down to the underground mine were trapped in the fire and lost their lives, Xinhua reported.
The accidents struck a nerve in China's top leaders in Zhonghanhai. Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang dashed to Pingdingshan immediately on Tuesday with a team of central government officials and investigators dispatched by the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
The Pingdinshan accident was a typical example of how local officials opened the gate for mine owners for illegal explorations. The Xinhua coal pit No. 4 was ordered to stop operations last year amid a government campaign to reform and improve the safety standard of small coal mines. On paper, the state-owned-turned-private coal mine was only allowed to send five workers inside the pit to renovate the ventilation and drainage system, with the supervision of three officials from a local watchdog group. The mining company was not allowed to conduct any production during the renovation period without government permission. However, 93 workers were in the mine during the gas explosion. A large amount of raw coal was also found piled up around the mine after the accident.
HONG KONG -- Two deadly mine accidents recently occurring within 24 hours of each other in China's Henan province have taken 56 lives so far and put 13 local officials and mine owners under investigation. The death toll is expected to rise as hope to rescue the 36 workers trapped in the coal mine is turning dim.
The tragedy has brought a direct challenge to the central government in Beijing as recent rising demand for metals and coal in China has raised the number of mine accidents and casualties, which in turn has elevated social discontent with local officials who have backed illegal mine operations under the protection of the government.
Article Controls
The first mine accident took place early Tuesday morning at Xinhua No. 4 pit in Pingdingshan, a coal city in central Henan province. There were 93 people working in the pit when gas blasted the mine, which was supposed to be in a production halt. Besides the 14 lucky ones who managed to escape, 79 others were trapped in the gas-filled mine. A rescue team organized by the central government has taken 43 dead bodies out of the mine as of Thursday morning, with the remaining 36 miners still trapped underground, according to China Daily. It is unlikely the trapped workers will survive the high levels of carbon monoxide. Further complicating the relief mission, the missing 36 workers were in four different extended zones, a member of the rescue team told China Daily.
About 18 hours after the Pingdingshan explosion, a fire broke out Tuesday night at an underground gold mine in Sanmenxia city, also in Henan Province. Apparently triggered by severed electric wires, the fire killed six of the 12 miners while the other half fled above the ground. Seven out of the eight rescuers sent down to the underground mine were trapped in the fire and lost their lives, Xinhua reported.
The accidents struck a nerve in China's top leaders in Zhonghanhai. Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang dashed to Pingdingshan immediately on Tuesday with a team of central government officials and investigators dispatched by the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
The Pingdinshan accident was a typical example of how local officials opened the gate for mine owners for illegal explorations. The Xinhua coal pit No. 4 was ordered to stop operations last year amid a government campaign to reform and improve the safety standard of small coal mines. On paper, the state-owned-turned-private coal mine was only allowed to send five workers inside the pit to renovate the ventilation and drainage system, with the supervision of three officials from a local watchdog group. The mining company was not allowed to conduct any production during the renovation period without government permission. However, 93 workers were in the mine during the gas explosion. A large amount of raw coal was also found piled up around the mine after the accident.
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