Blast in mine kills 66

2005-07-12 12:50

Beijing - The death toll from a gas explosion in a coal mine in northwestern China rose to 66 on Tuesday, and officials said the chances of finding alive 17 miners still missing were slim.

Rescue efforts were hampered by a high gas density in the shaft, creating the risk of a second explosion in the Shenlong Coal Mine in Fukang city, Xinjiang region, said the China Central Television Station (CCTV).

The blast tore through the shaft in the early hours of Monday, when 87 miners were working underground in the operation that lacked safety permits, said the State Administration for Work Safety.

Only four miners were found alive, and the remains of the dead had been recovered and taken to funeral homes, said Yu Zhengui, deputy secretary general of the Xinjiang regional government.

The chances of finding more survivors were "very slim", Yu was quoted as saying by the Xinhua news agency. Survival rates in gas explosions are generally low as gas inhalation is quickly lethal.

Officials closed all mines with safety concerns in the area, CCTV said.

The State Administration for Work Safety said on its website that the mine lacked a safety permit and was in the process of applying for one when the accident occurred.

The Shenlong mine, set up in 2001, had also far exceeded production, generating 170 000 tons of coal in the year's first half when it was meant to produce only 30 000 tons a year, the state body said.

China's mines are considered the most deadly in the world, as safety is often sacrificed in pursuit of profitable fossil fuels to drive the country's rapid industrialisation and economic growth.

Closure orders and safety regulations are often poorly enforced by corrupt government officials who turn a blind eye to violations.

Official statistics say more than 6 000 miners died in accidents in China last year, but independent estimates put the figure as high as 20 000.

Following the latest blast, the regional government in Xinjiang issued an urgent circular demanding all coal mine operators take extra measures to improve safety, Xinhua said.

- AFP