China says 42 dead, 66 trapped in mine explosion

[Akoto]

Source: Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) -- A gas explosion tore through a state-run coal mine in northern China on Saturday, killing 42 people and leaving 66 others trapped underground as rescuers worked hastily to save them.

China's mines are the world's deadliest, and the blast shows the difficulties the government faces in trying to boost safety in an industry where large state-owned coal mines are considered safer than smaller, private ones.

A total of 528 people were working in the Xinxing mine in Heilongjiang province at the time of the 2:30 a.m. explosion, the State Administration of Work Safety said in a statement. It said 389 escaped after the blast.

-snip-

In the first nine months of this year, China's coal mines had 11 major accidents with 303 deaths, with gas explosions the leading cause, according to the central government.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CHINA_MINE_EXPLOSION?SITE=TXKER&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

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Pretty sad when these mines are considered the safer employment option. I hope the remaining trapped can make it out, but communications lines have been cut.

[wtmusic]

1. The same number of confirmed dead as Chernobyl

No doubt this will get JUST as much media exposure!

[aquart]

6. What a perfectly ludicrous response.

The confirmed dead at Chernobyl was NOTHING.

Chernobyl was a threat to every inch of Europe, Africa, Asia depending on how the wind was blowing that day. Herds of reindeer, the support of thousands, slaughtered for contamination. Poisoned fish, cheese, milk, pregnant women DEPENDING ON HOW THE WIND BLEW.

Confirmed dead? The story was reported because of the dead we couldn't confirm, not for years.

The dead in that coal mine are tragedies for their families and their community and, hopefully, the people who sent them into that deadly mine. This isn't China's first mine disaster. They will have them until they value lives of workers and, so far, they feel no need to do that.

But that coal mine event is NOTHING to Chernobyl.

[wtmusic]

9. Deaths attributable to coal dwarf Chernobyl casualties

Roughly 30,000/year

http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/cleanair.htm

And it doesn't matter which way the wind is blowing.

[Haole Girl]

2. That's awful

I hope those remaining somehow make it out, too.

[blue97keet]

3. Time for a carbon tariff on their cheap exports.

They are being subsidized with lives.

[mddem9850]

4. Just awful

[David__77]

5. The state mines are safer than the private ones.

There is an effort to bring more of the mining sector under state control - this is a good thing. But clearly there is a long way to go to improve worker safety in these mines too.

[GliderGuider]

7. China coal mine blast death toll jumps to 87

HEGANG, China — Rescuers worked in frigid cold to reach 21 miners trapped underground Sunday as the death toll from a huge gas explosion in a northern Chinese mine jumped to 87 — the deadliest blast to hit the beleaguered industry in nearly two years.

[Mari333]

8. NO unions NO OSHA.

[Kshasty]

10. Miner is a really dangerous profession

[superconnected]

11. more so in China.

They ought to be very embarrassed about this. I wonder if their government has done anything to make it safer. I mean 11 mine disasters this year...