Tragedy Strikes: 12 Perish in Coal Mine Mishap in Northeast China
A tragic mining accident in northeast China has resulted in the loss of twelve lives and the injury of thirteen others, as reported by state media on Thursday. The distressing incident occurred at 3:50 pm local time (0750 GMT) on Wednesday at a coal mine located on the outskirts of Jixi city in Heilongjiang province. According to reports from state broadcaster CCTV, the expansive coal mine became the site of a tragic event when a vehicle within the mine’s inclined shaft was involved in an accident, leading to the loss of twelve lives and injuries to thirteen others who were promptly transported to the hospital for urgent medical treatment. The cause of the tragedy is currently under investigation, as stated by CCTV on Thursday.
Despite significant improvements in mining safety in China in recent decades, with increased media coverage of major incidents that were previously overlooked, accidents continue to plague the industry due to a poor safety record and weak regulatory enforcement. Official figures from last year reveal that 245 individuals lost their lives in 168 accidents. Similarly, in November, 11 individuals died in an accident at another coal mine in Heilongjiang, while in September, a coal mine fire in southwest China’s Guizhou province resulted in the deaths of at least 16 people. In February, a devastating incident occurred in the remote and sparsely populated Alxa League of the northern Inner Mongolia region, where a massive 180-metre-high (590-foot) slope collapsed, leading to the partial collapse of a coal mine. As a result, dozens of people and vehicles were buried under a mountain of debris, and the final death toll was only disclosed in June, revealing that 53 lives were lost.
It is a poignant reminder of the ongoing dangers that threaten the lives of workers in the coal mining industry. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy. May their souls rest in peace.
