Chengdu (AsiaNews
/ Agencies) - Nineteen miners were killed and at least 28 are still trapped in
a coal mine in Panzhihua (Sichuan). The disaster, according to Xinhua, happened last night when
there was a gas explosion in a tunnel where 150
miners were working.
The rescue teams have said that 107 people this morning were rescued, the bodies of
16 miners killed
by gas fumes were also recovered, three others died after
their transport to hospital.
The mine is owned by the Zhengjin Industry and
Trade Co., Ltd, its managers were questioned by police.
According to the latest government
statistics, last year 1,973 people
died in accidents in coal mines, with a
drop of 19% over the previous
year. But human rights groups and private Chinese scholars say the figure is much higher: many
owners of the mines, in fact, do not
report incidents for fear of
economic losses, fines, plant closures.
Very often local
authorities are corrupted by
bribes to turn a blind eye to the lack of security policies.
China is the largest consumer of coal in the world and
relies on it for 70% of its ever-growing energy needs.