BEIJING: A coal mine accident that killed 23 miners earlier this month in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality was caused by a fire due to irregular operations, local authorities said on Wednesday.
The post-accident investigation showed that the accident happened when workers dismantling underground equipment violated regulations and used fire, which triggered an unwanted fire and excessive levels of carbon monoxide in the coal mines underground tunnels.
Local authorities said all coal mines in Chongqing were closed since December 5 and safety supervision will be enhanced.
Earlier Saturday, CGTN reported that twenty-three miners were killed and one was rescued after accident due to excessive levels of carbon monoxide in a coal mine in southwest China’s Chongqing.
The accident happened at around 5 p.m. Friday at the closed Diaoshuidong colliery in Yongchuan District, Chongqing Municipality, when workers were dismantling equipment in the pit. A total of 24 miners were trapped when the accident happened.
The mine was suspended and shut down over two months ago.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, and the Work Safety Committee of China’s State Council is supervising the investigation.
Officials from the Work Safety Committee of the State Council on Sunday held talks with the Chongqing municipal government following the recent coal mine accident and another major accident that happened in September.
A total of 16 people were killed in the coal mine on September 27 due to excessive levels of carbon monoxide at the Songzao coal mine in Chongqing.
Huang Yuzhi, head of the National Coal Mine Safety Administration, lead the talks and urged the local authorities to thoroughly analyze the causes of the accidents and take effective measures to curb the frequent occurrence of accidents and disasters.
–The Daily Mail-CGTN News exchange item
