Gas explosion in China
A gas explosion at a mine in northeast China early Saturday killed 15
workers and left 114 trapped, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said.
The incident happened at about 2:30 am (1830 GMT Friday) at a mine in
Heilongjiang province, Xinhua news agency said, quoting the provincial
coal mine safety watchdog.The company said 528 miners were working in
the mine, 10 kilometres (six miles) from Hegang City, when the blast
occurred, Xinhua reported. It earlier said 139 miners had been
trapped.CCTV said most of the miners had managed to escape.Xinhua said
vice premier Zhang Dejiang was going to the scene of the incident to
direct rescue operations.
The safety watchdog said the mine is owned by the Heilongjiang
Longmay Mining Holding Group, based in provincial capital Harbin.China’s
coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world, with safety
standards often ignored in the quest for profits and the drive to meet
surging demand for coal the source of about 70 percent of China’s
energy.Official figures show that more than 3,200 workers died in
collieries last year, but independent labour groups say the actual
figure could be much higher. -AFP
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