The accident at the flooded
Xinjing Coal Mine that trapped 57 miners in Zuoyun, North China's Shanxi
Province could have been avoided, say miners who escaped.
Miners said the mine showed signs of flooding six days before the fatal
accident. However, management ordered them to keep on mining.
"On May 18, a team leader had an argument with management as he insisted
mining should stop because it was too dangerous. He was slapped in the face by a
manager," said a miner surnamed Yang.
The angry team leader did not go to work underground, avoiding the accident,
he added.
Li Yizhong, director of the State Administration of Work Safety, has blamed
excessive production for the accident. The coal mine had a license to produce
90,000 tons a year, but produced 130,000 tons from March 2 to May 18.
Rescuers yesterday were still battling to save the 57 trapped miners.
The water level beneath the shaft is falling as pumping continues and the
rescuers have mobilized high-power pumps from major mines nearby to speed up the
process.
A large crowd of miners and family members of trapped miners have been
waiting for news in front of rescue headquarters.
Nine management staff, including the owner of the miner Li Fuyuan, have been
detained by the police. However, two managers, including one who was responsible
for work safety, have gone into hiding, said Bai Yulong, spokesman of the rescue
headquarters.
Bai also said the local public security department had frozen 11 million yuan
(1.38 million US dollars) in 11 accounts owned by the management staff. and
recovered 8 million yuan (1 million US dollars) in cash.
Chang Rui, Party secretary of Zhangjiachang Town, where the mine is located,
and Liu Yongxin, the township head, have been suspended.
Zuoyun County has also suspended coal production at all local collieries for
safety inspections.
Local officials had earlier played down the accident's extent, saying only
five miners were trapped.
