China Coal Mine Explosion Kills 82, Rescue Teams Search for Trapped Workers

Beijing: Bad news has come from Shanxi. On Saturday, there was such an explosion in the Liushenyu coal mine in Changzhi city that the entire area shook. People are saying that even the ground shook. Government media has acknowledged that 82 workers have been killed so far. 247 people were working inside at the time of the accident. The rescue went on throughout the day, in which 201 people were pulled out, but many are still trapped inside. The rescue team people are also worried that there is less oxygen.

What did President Xi Jinping say?

As soon as the news of the accident was received, President Xi Jinping took immediate action. He asked the officials to intensify the rescue operation. According to Xinhua agency, Xi clearly said that rescuing the missing workers safely is the first priority of the government. There should be no shortage in the treatment of the injured. He also warned that there will be a thorough investigation into the accident and if negligence is found in safety rules, strict action will be taken against those responsible.

How did the explosion happen? 

The real reason for the explosion has not been revealed yet. Investigating agencies are on the spot. Initial guess is gas leakage or technical fault, but nothing can be said for sure. The inside of the mine is filled with smoke and debris. There is very little oxygen at many places, so the rescue team is facing great difficulty in going inside. Every minute is precious, but circumstances are difficult.

Was action taken against company officers? 

Government reports suggest that some officials of the company running the mine have been detained. However, the administration has not yet told how many people have been arrested or what the charges against them are. In China, it is common for the company and local administration to be investigated after such accidents. This time too big questions are being raised on safety standards.

Why is Shanxi so important? 

Shanxi is called the coal bowl of China. This is the largest coal producing province of the country. A major part of China's electricity and factories' needs are met from here. Lakhs of laborers work in the mines here. Last year, 1.3 billion tons of coal were extracted in Shanxi alone. China's economy is still very dependent on coal, so mining does not stop.

Have such accidents happened before?

Mine accidents are not a new thing in China. Many major explosions have occurred in the last few years. The government every time talks about tightening security, but accidents do not stop. Experts believe that the pressure of extracting more coal and taking safety rules lightly are the main reasons for this. This latest accident has once again sparked debate on the safety of workers. The question remains, production is necessary, but at the cost of lives?