China reports 289 killed in colliery accidents in Q1, 2012
27 April 2012
China's mining sector saw 185 accidents and 289 deaths in the first quarter of the year, according to the State Administration of Work Safety quoted by Xinhua. The death toll was down 16.5% on the same period last year, the administration said.
Some 289 were killed in China's coal mines in the first quarter of 2012
China's mines are among the deadliest in the world, with fatal accidents occurring frequently due to poor safety regulations and a lack of safety awareness. In the latest tragedy, a coal mine flood in northeast China's Jilin province claimed 12 lives.
Altogether 1,973 miners were killed in coal mine accidents last year, according to statistics from the administration.
In January, twelve officials were prosecuted for alleged dereliction of duty over two mining accidents that killed 31 people in southwest China's Guizhou province last year, including seven officials prosecuted for the gas explosion at the Jinying Coal Mine where 19 were killed and 15 injured. The mine was operating illegally at the time and had substandard ventilation, the official probe concluded.