- According to the state-run media today, a coal mine explosion in the northern Chinese province of Shaanxi claimed the lives of eleven individuals.
- The incident happened at the Xintai coal mine, which is close to Yan’an, around 8:26 p.m. yesterday, according to official broadcaster CCTV, which cited the municipal emergency management office.
- 9 imprisoned individuals who were “found with no vital signs” at 9 a.m. today were among the approximately 90 persons within the mine at the time of the explosion, according to CCTV.
- The station stated that 2 more people who reached the surface “were seriously injured and died after resuscitation efforts failed.”
- 11 other persons were described as “lightly injured” and admitted to the hospital for care; “their vital signs are stable,” it continued.
- CCTV stated, “At this time, the cause of the accident is being investigated.”
- Both China’s mine safety and the media’s coverage of significant incidents—many of which were previously unreported—have improved in recent decades.
- China, the world’s largest producer and user of coal, continues to rely mostly on the fuel source for its energy needs while rapidly increasing its use of wind and solar power.
- This catastrophe was the bloodiest since an open-pit mine collapsed in February in the northern province of Inner Mongolia, killing over fifty people.
- Officials as high as Chinese leader Xi Jinping have called for safety improvements, but that seems to have had a limited effect on mining operations that frequently cut corners while local officials turn a blind eye.
- In recent months, China has seen a number of fatal industrial and construction mishaps, frequently caused by inadequate safety regulations and training, corrupt officials, and corporate greed.
Source:
Freemalaysiatoday.com
