A coal mine flooding in northwestern China has left seven people dead. It's the latest in a series of mining accidents, even though officials say safety standards are rising. A recent report said the number of deaths in China's mining industry has fallen 20 percent over the last year.
Another deadly day in China's mining industry. Rescuers recovered seven bodies from a flooded coal mine in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region over the weekend. The Wuzhou work safety bureau says 13 miners were working underground when the incident happened at the mine, which is owned by Longneng Coal Mining Corporation. Five managed to escape on their own and one was rescued.
A safety official says relatives of each victim received about 44 thousand dollars in compensation. Meanwhile, the mine owner remains under arrest while the investigation continues.
With around 70% of its electricity generated from coal fired power stations and a huge demand for coke to make steel, China's hunger for coal is insatiable. This puts enormous pressure on the country's coalmines which are notorious for being amongst the most dangerous in the world.