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Chinese Search for 3 Coal Miners

Posted on: Thursday, 1 December 2005, 09:00 CST

By Joe McDonald

Rescuers in northeast China searched today in freezing temperatures for three coal miners who were trapped after an explosion killed at least 148 others.

The blast in the Dongfeng Coal Mine late Sunday prompted national leaders to demand stricter enforcement of safety rules in China's mines, which are the world's deadliest, with thousands of fatalities a year.

Roads leading to the mine were blocked today, with police officers and vehicles standing guard as search efforts continued.

Although 72 workers have been saved, the chances of finding any more survivors were low because of a high concentration of poisonous gas in the tunnel, said Song Kaicheng, an engineer with the group that owns the mine, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

Inside the mine compound, rescue workers wearing orange jumpsuits and respirators could be seen making their way to the mouth of the coal pit.

Xinhua said 148 were killed including two people who died in an above-ground generator room. The others were all underground.

A man who answered the telephone at the coal mine said mine officials met today with the victims' relatives and were arranging for counseling and compensation.

The official China News Service said relatives were to receive up to $25,000 in compensation.

The government said the explosion was caused by airborne coal dust that ignited, but there was no word on whether the blast was believed to involve misconduct or human error.

The town has seen a series of fatal mining accidents. In May 2004, 12 people were killed in an explosion. Blasts also killed 17 in March and another nine in May.

The disaster is a setback for Chinese officials struggling to improve safety in the coal mining industry. Most accidents have been blamed on a disregard for safety rules or a lack of equipment for ventilation or fire control. Local officials often are accused of helping mine owners or managers flout safety rules.

"This industry is too corrupt. Safety is no good," said Yuan Yongqing, a 57-year-old retired miner, whose younger brother, Yuan Yongcun, was killed in Sunday's explosion.

One man who gave only his family name, Li, said he was hoping for news about his son. Reporters trying to speak with dozens of relatives waiting outside were escorted off the premises.

Beijing has unveiled one mine safety initiative after another in recent years. It has announced the creation of a national network of safety inspectors, stricter fire standards and shorter working hours for miners to prevent fatigue.

Authorities say they have shut down more than 12,000 coal mines this year for safety violations. Thousands have been ordered to improve their facilities, and many others aren't expected to reopen.

The Qitaihe disaster came as the nearby city of Harbin was struggling to recover from a toxic spill in the Songhua River that forced the government to cut off water supplies for five days.

Source: Buffalo News

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