China mine explosion kills 28
13 May 2013
An explosion killed at least 28 workers at the Taozigou mine in Luxian County, Sichuan Province, with a further 16 taken to hospital with injuries of whom three are in a critical condition. According to local Chinese media, 81 miners were rescued from the blast. According to Xinhua, the mining operation was illegal.
Fu Jianhua, deputy director of the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS), told an emergency press conference in Luzhou the blast was a result of high gas density due to poor ventilation.
Liu Jie, deputy governor of Sichuan, said the Taozigou coal mine should be shut down "as soon as possible," and production at all coal mines in the province should be suspended for an overhaul.
SAWS director Yang Dongliang said all licenses of the coal mine must be revoked and the site will be shut down permanently.
The accident followed a separate explosion at a mine in Guizhou Province, which killed a further 12 workers.
China's mining industry is one of the most dangerous in the world, and records show 1,384 people died in coal mining accidents in the country last year.