BEIJING: As many as ten people were killed and around six are missing following an accident at a coal mine in central China’s Henan Province, official media reported on Saturday.
The accident, a likely coal and gas blast described as an “outburst,” occurred around 2:55 pm on Friday in Pingdingshan, CCTV reported. The state-run media stated that search and rescue efforts were taking place in the region. Official news agency Xinhua reported that 425 people were working underground when the explosion took place. Local officials said that the in charge of the mine have been arrested after the explosion.
Ten Dead in China Mining Accident: Report
Such types of accidents are still common in an industry with a poor safety record and where rules and regulations are not essentially enforced. In 2022, around 245 people were killed in 168 accidents, official figures showed.
Last month, at least 12 people were killed and 13 wounded in a mining accident on the outskirts of Jixi city in Heilongjiang province. 11 people were killed in November in an accident at coal mine in the same region. Similarly, in September, around 16 people were killed in a coal mine fire in southwest China’s Guizhou province, local media reported.
