Eighty-one miners are confirmed dead and five remain missing after
two days of exhaustive rescue operations following a massive gas
blast at a colliery in East China's
Anhui
Province.
The 28 injured mine workers who made it to safety are receiving
hospital treatment, said an official, surnamed Zhang, speaking at
the scene yesterday.
A
total of 114 miners were working underground when an explosion
ripped through the Luling Coal Mine, operated by Huaibei Mining
Group on Tuesday afternoon.
Nineteen of the injured were taken to the hospital affiliated to
the mine, said a doctor surnamed Xing with the hospital.
"Most of the patients here are in a stable condition, except for
one, who suffered comparatively severe burns,'' he said.
The remainder, who suffered more serious injuries are being treated
at the general hospital affiliated to the Huaibei Mining Group.
Lin, a doctor with the general hospital, told reporters that those
victims had suffered 50 per cent body surface burns and fractures
and were on the critical list.
A
series of measures has been taken to ensure the on-going rescue,
said Zhang, the mine official. Rescuers have succeeded in adjusting
and restoring the mine ventilation system to reduce the temperature
and also install anti-dust equipment to reduce the risk of a coal
dust explosion, which can be triggered by high underground
temperatures.
Preventative measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the
rescue workers and to supervise and test the pit atmosphere, said
Zhang.
Following the accident, a team of officials sent by the State
Council arrived at the Luling Coal Mine. They have instituted
specific arrangements for the rescue work and investigations into
the cause of the disaster and directed that local governments draw
whatever lessons possible from it.
Wang Xianzheng and Zhao Tiechui, director and deputy director of
the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS), ordered an all
effort be put into the rescue.
On
behalf of his team, Wang expressed his condolences to the families
of those who had died and offered his gratitude to those involved
in the dangerous rescue operation.
"Although there is little chance the missing miners will be found
alive, the rescue efforts will continue, with the top priority to
save miners lives right now,'' he said.
The SAWS has ordered an immediate safety overhaul in all domestic
mines to prevent repeat disasters.
In
Anhui, the provincial government ordered a halt to production at
all of the coal mines in Huaibei while safety checks are carried
out. These moves will be mirrored province-wide with rectification
steps taken to identify hidden risks and prevent future workplace
accidents.
On
Wednesday, the work safety authority in Anhui also issued a notice
ordering that work safety evaluation be carried out on all mining
operations.
The Luling incident is the second coal mine accident in China this
year to claim more than 50 lives, according to the SAWS.
(China Daily May 16, 2003)