China - mine explosion

Coal mine explosion leaves eleven dead, three missing

Article published on the 2009-10-15 Latest update 2009-10-15 12:47 TU

A labourer works at a foundry plant in Xinzhou, Shanxi province, China.
(Photo: Reuters)

Eleven workers have been killed and three more are missing after an explosion at a coal mine in China’s Ningxia region. Seven more were injured in the blast, which happened late on Wednesday in the town of Shizuishan. Only one person escaped unharmed.

The workers were using dynamite to get through rock when the incident occurred, the Xinhua state news agency reported. They also stated that an investigation was underway.

Official figures show that more than 3,200 workers died in colleries in 2008. China has some of the world’s most dangerous coalmines, where workers often face a lack of safety standards to extract the coal that provides 70 per cent of China’s energy.

The mine where the explosion happened is owned by Shenhua Group, one of China’s largest mining companies.