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Outrage in China over coal mine tragedy
2007-08-21
Angry relatives weep outside the compound at a coal mine in Xintai, eastern Shandong province. Scuffles broke out between relatives and security forces at a coal mine in eastern China as hopes faded for the rescue of 172 miners trapped unberground by flash floods. |
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Bosses at a Chinese coal mine where 172 workers are feared dead following a flash flood ignored warning signals, and the tragedy could have been avoided, China's official media said Tuesday. As rescue efforts continued following Friday's flooding with few hopes of finding anyone alive, outrage was building over what appeared to be the latest example of abysmal work safety practices in China's coal mining industry. State media carried extensive reports that blamed the bosses and local authorities for the disaster at the Zhangzhuang mine in eastern China's Shandong province. Over 750 miners were underground when the water began entering the mine, but 172 were unable to get out in time and have not been heard from since. "The workers from the day shift, most of whom managed to escape later, reported the rising water levels and submerged work areas to management, but the company did nothing," the China Daily quoted one miner, whose brother-in-law remains missing, as saying. The newspaper quoted another source as saying that the mine had flooded repeatedly since it opened in 1957 and that fatalities occurred as recently as last year, but that the accidents had been covered up. A commentary on the Chinese government's official website, China.com.cn, also voiced deep anger, saying signs of imminent flooding appeared well before the nearby Wen River burst its banks and sent water gushing in. "This disaster was completely avoidable," said the article by Bo Ye, a regular commentator on the website, which is run by the cabinet's information office. "During the period when the river water was swelling rapidly because of heavy rain, and the time when it broke its banks, is it conceivable there were no warnings and no preparations?" Meanwhile, rescue work continued at the Zhangzhuang mine and another one 10 kilometres (six miles) away, where nine more workers have been missing -- also since Friday and also under similar circumstances. "As long as there is just a faint glimmer of hope, we will keep on working 100 percent," Shandong provincial government spokesman Zhang Dekuan told a press briefing late Monday. The twin disasters have once again thrown the spotlight on China's coal mining industry, which is riddled with corruption and regarded as one of the most dangerous in the world. More than 4,700 coal miners died last year, according to official figures, but independent labour groups put the real toll at up to 20,000 annually, saying many accidents are covered up.
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