Families protest as coal mine death toll rises

(TibetanReview.net, Nov25, 2009) As the official death toll mounted to 104, relatives of the victims of a gas blast Nov 21 at a coal mine in Hegang city in frigid northeastern China’s Heilongjiang province scuffled with police on Nov 23, demanding answers from the owners. The explosion had occurred at night when 528 miners were working below ground. Most escaped, but 104 were confirmed dead and an additional four were missing and feared dead, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Many were under treatment with serious wounds.

The explosion at the Xinxing coal mine, belonging to the state-owned Heilongjiang Longmei Mining Holding Group, was reported to be the deadliest in China's mining industry in two years.

"We thought the state mines were safe. Why did he die?" Liu Shujiu, whose 38-year-old husband, Zhang Shulai, was among the victims, was quoted as saying as she broke down in tears and sat in a chair.

She, like others, also wailed at the lack of information about the accident and the victims. "Why don't you tell us anything?" The Guardian online (Nigeria) Nov 24 quoted one of the protesters as shouting. "Not even a phone call!"

Meanwhile, in another reminder of mining dangers in China, the death toll from a Nov 22 explosion at a mine in central Hunan Province rose to 11, with another three missing, Xinhua reported Nov 23. Rescue efforts were reported to be continuing at the Guojiawan mine in Huaihua city.

China has the world's deadliest coal-mining industry with more than 3,000 people killed in mine floods, explosions, collapses and other accidents in 2008 alone. Actual deaths are suspected to be much higher since owners conceal figures to avoid bad publicity and risks of being shut down.