17 miners trapped in China coal mine

World

17 miners trapped in China coal mine

Close

Rescue workers had managed to locate the 17 missing workers.

23 March,2012 11:25 am

Chinese rescue workers battled Friday to free 17 miners trapped for more than 48 hours in a northeast colliery after a gas blast that left five dead, a government official said.The explosion on Thursday, in a coal mine in Liaoning province, killed five workers and injured a sixth, the official, surnamed Liang, told AFP.State-run broadcaster CCTV reported Friday that rescue workers had managed to locate the 17 missing workers, who were trapped around 50 metres (165 feet) away from the mines entrance.Chinas mines are known for being among the deadliest in the world due to lax regulation, corruption and inefficiency, and accidents are common as safety is often neglected by bosses seeking a quick profit.Last week, 13 people died after a capsule plunged into a pit at an iron ore mine in eastern China after a steel rope holding it broke.And in February, 15 miners were killed and another three injured when a tramcar derailed in a coal mine in central China.Latest figures show that 2,433 people died in coal mining accidents in the country in 2010 -- a rate of more than six workers per day.Labour rights groups, however, say the actual death toll is likely to be much higher, partly due to under-reporting of accidents as mine bosses seek to limit their economic losses and avoid punishment.Chinas rapid economic growth has caused demand for energy, including coal, to surge.The worlds second-biggest economy is the top global consumer of coal, relying on the fossil fuel for 70 percent of itsgrowing energy needs, and during the winter months mines operate at full capacity.