China Mine Blast Kills 16 In Continuing Grim Saga

China Mine Blast Kills 16 in Continuing Grim Saga

Planet Ark (Reuters)

March 16, 2005

BEIJING - Sixteen miners trapped after a coal mine gas explosion in northeast China were found dead on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported, the latest in a series of disasters in the world's deadliest mining industry.

One miner had been rescued and two were still missing, it said.

The accident happened on Tuesday at a mine in Qitaihe, Heilongjiang province.

"The rescue operation is still going on, and the cause of the explosion is under investigation," Xinhua said.

There was no immediate word on the fate of six workers trapped 130 metres (430 ft) underground after a mudflow hit a coal mine in the southern province of Hunan on Sunday.

Accidents in China's vast mining industry killed more than 6,000 miners last year.

At the annual meeting of China's parliament, which closed Monday, the government pledged to spend over $6 billion on improving coal mining safety over the next few years.