TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Its Coal Mine Deaths Are Down, But China Still Deadliest

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 13, 2008

BEIJING - Accidents in China's notoriously dangerous coal mines killed nearly 3,800 people last year, state media reported Saturday - a toll that is a marked improvement from previous years but still leaves China's mines the world's deadliest.

A total of 3,786 were killed in mining accidents in 2007 - 20 percent lower than in 2006, indicating that a safety campaign to shut small, illegal mining operations and reduce gas explosions has been effective, the Xinhua News Agency quoted the head of China's government safety watchdog as saying.

Coal is the lifeblood of China's booming, energy-hungry economy. The mining industry's safety, which never has been good, often has suffered as mine owners have pushed to dig up more coal to take advantage of higher prices.

Chinese mines produced 2.5 billion tons of coal last year, Xinhua said, nearly 8 percent more than in 2006.

The Associated Press

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT