Northeast China: Coal mine accident leaves 12 dead, 13 injured
China‘s State broadcaster CCTV reported yesterday, December 21, that coal workers were underground when their mining cart careened off the tracks, marking yet another episode in China’s mining safety challenges.
This incident, occurring on December 20 at the Kunyuan mine, raises questions about the effectiveness of China’s ongoing efforts to enhance mine safety. In a country where mining accidents are unfortunately not rare, the urgency to address and prevent such disasters is paramount.
This accident follows a string of recent disasters. Just the previous week, three lives were lost in a coal-related incident in Shanxi, another coal-producing province. The echoes of an explosion in Shanxi claiming 11 lives in August and a deadly coal mine fire in Guizhou province, where 16 lives were lost in September, linger as poignant reminders of the hazards that persist in the industry, reported AP news.
Adding to the concerns, the previous month witnessed a devastating fire in a Shanxi coal mining company building, resulting in the deaths of 26 individuals and leaving numerous others wounded. While distinct from mine accidents, it underscores the broader safety challenges plaguing China’s coal sector.
In related news, a car accident occurred recently that involved a wedding convoy and a large garbage truck, resulting in seven fatalities, including the pregnant bride. The event unfolded near a petrol station in Huanan in the Heilongjiang province, China, and sparked an ongoing police investigation. The accident, which occurred on October 3, involved a seven-seater off-road vehicle suddenly veering into oncoming traffic, colliding headfirst with a large garbage truck.
In other news, an accident involving a faulty escalator took the life of a 22 year old maintenance worker at a shopping centre in Guiyang City, Guizhou province, China. The individual, while servicing a faulty escalator, was abruptly engulfed by the mechanism and subsequently died. The incident occurred in a commercial centre where the escalator had been experiencing issues. The 22 year old worker was dispatched to inspect and rectify the problem, a task carried out on the following day.
