Mining Deaths Continue to Plague China’s Coal Industry

December proved to be another deadly month for mine workers in China. No less than four major accidents were recorded and publicized, claiming the lives of 100 workers. On 9 December, a gas explosion at the Daxian mine near Yangquan, Shanxi Province, killed 33, including five workers as they were being rescued. In Guizhou Province on 12 December, 36 workers were trapped and drowned when the Xujiuabe Tianchi mine was flooded. Two days later near the town of Tanjiashan, Hunan Province, another gas blast killed 18 workers. Then on 22 December, 13 workers were killed at the Nanwugou mine near Linfen in northern Shanxi Province when a build up of gas overcame the workers in a mineshaft.