Coal mine gas leak kills 24 in China
A gas leak at a coal mine in China’s central Henan province has killed 24 miners, the official Xinhua News Agency said today.
The leak occurred 10:30pm (2.30pm Irish Time) yesterday at the Xingfa Coal Mine in Wenshu township, Xinhua said.
Some 43 people were working in the mine when the gas leak occurred, Xinhua said. Seventeen miners escaped and two others were subsequently rescued, Xinhua said.
The private mine was operating illegally when the accident happened, Xinhua said. An investigation is underway.
China’s mines are the world’s deadliest, with thousands of workers killed each year in fires, floods and explosions. Lack of safety equipment and lax safety rules are often the main causes.
Accidents killed 1,113 coal miners in the first three months of this year – up almost 21% from the same period in 2004, according to the government.
