China

Families protest as death toll from mine blast rises to 104

Article published on the 2009-11-23 Latest update 2009-11-23 18:51 TU

Chinese mine
© Samuel Bollendorf

Relatives of miners killed in Saturday's mine explosion gathered outside the mine compound Monday, complaining about the lack of information. At least 104 workers were killed in the explosion in the city of Hegang in northeastern Heilongjiang province, close to the Russian border.

Two hospitals in Hegang were treating 65 injured workers.

The State Administration of Work Safety reported that 528 workers were in the mine when the explosion occurred. As many as four workers could still be trapped inside.

The accident occurred in one of the largest and oldest state-run mines, belonging to the Heilongjiang Longmay Mining Holding Group.

Luo Lin, director of the State Work Safety Administration said on state television that lax management was behind the mine explosion.

Heilongjiang governor Li Zhanshu called for mine safety to be made a "top priority that we can hang our hearts on and grasp in our hands."

"We definitely cannot exchange the lives and blood of our workers to pursue GDP growth," said Li on the government's website.

Families of the dead miners will receive up to 300,000 yuan (44,000 dollars) in compensation, the China News Service reported. Psychologists were being brought in to help survivors and relatives of victims cope with the disaster.

The mine explosion is the deadliest since the one that killed 105 miners in the province of Shanxi in December 2007.

Compared to other manual labour, mining pays relatively high wages. But China’s mines are among the world's most dangerous. Seven million Chinese coal miners work long hours in perilous conditions.

Official statistics show that more than 3,200 workers died in coal mines last year. However, independent groups say many more deaths are kept quiet to avoid shutdowns and fines.

Coal is the source of about 70 per cent of the country’s energy.