China is facing its worst mining disaster in 17 years. After Friday’s massive gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine, which claimed at least 90 lives, the investigation team of China’s State Council took control of the situation.
China’s government has launched an investigation into a coal mine explosion that killed at least 90 people and vowed to hold them accountable, state media reported Saturday. TASR writes about it according to an AFP report.
- A gas explosion in the Liushenyu coal mine claimed 90 lives.
- China’s State Council has established a team to thoroughly and uncompromisingly investigate the accident.
- Anyone responsible faces severe penalties under applicable Chinese law.
- The government launched a nationwide campaign against illegal mining and falsification of monitoring.
Uncompromising intervention of the State Council and campaign against illegal mining
“In response to the gas explosion accident at the Liushenyu coal mine owned by Shaanxi Zhongzhou Group, the investigation team of the State Council will carry out a thorough and uncompromising investigation,” China’s Xinhua news agency said.
“Those responsible will be severely punished in accordance with laws and regulations,” she added.
At the same time, the government ordered a nationwide campaign against illegal mining. “All regions and relevant authorities must start cracking down on illegal and illegal activities and thoroughly investigate and punish cases such as illegal mine operations, falsification of safety monitoring data, unclear numbers of underground workers and illegal subcontracting or assignment of contracts,” state news agency Xinhua said.
Hundreds of rescuers underground and the rapid evacuation of survivors
The explosion occurred on Friday at 7:29 p.m. (Saturday 1:29 a.m. CET) in a coal mine in Shanxi province. At that time, there were approximately 247 workers in it, most of whom managed to be freed by Saturday morning. A total of 755 members of the rescue and medical units were dispatched to the site.
Shanxi Province is the center of coal mining in China. The country is the largest consumer of coal in the world and also produces the most greenhouse gases, although it is building its renewable energy capacity at a record pace.
Friday’s blast was China’s worst mining disaster since 2009, when 108 people died in a mine explosion in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang. Safety in Chinese mines has improved over the past decades, but due to insufficient safety regulations, accidents occur quite often, AFP reminds.
