Unauthorized colliery production blamed for rise deaths

Fifty-one people died and 32 are missing after accidents in China's coal mines from March 19 to 25, a rise of 39 dead or missing from the same period last year.

State Administration of Work Safety spokesman Huang Yi told Xinhua on Thursday that the sudden rebound of colliery accidents were mainly triggered by illegal production.

Two serious accidents occurred in central China's Shanxi and Henan Provinces on March 18 and 23 killing a total of 36 people.

The report came only three days after the administration issued a statement saying the year to date had seen fewer people dead or missing in fewer major accidents.

"Many of the collieries experiencing accidents turned out to be operating illegally, with invalid licenses or under closure orders," Huang said.

He urged safety supervisors to tighten inspections and prevent unauthorized operations.

Huang said the accidents came at a timing when collieries started to resume production after the long Spring Festival holiday.

As gas quickly built up in a shaft when production was suspended, mine owners should carefully execute proper production procedures and stay on high alert before resuming operations.

The SAWS issues weekly reports monitoring nationwide coal mine accidents, but because of technical reasons, the updates are normally delayed by several days.

The latest update did not include the explosion at Yujialing Coal Mine, of Linfen City, Shanxi Province, which killed 26 on Wednesday. Preliminary investigations showed working conditions in the mine were very unsafe and chaotic before the accident.

Source: Xinhua