Deadly blast at China coal mine

More than a dozen workers dead and missing after explosion at mine in northern China.

china map showing shanxi province and jinzhong city - graphics

Rescuers are still searching for the missing miners, Xinhua added.

China’s mines are the deadliest in the world, with unregulated mines accounting for almost 80 per cent of the country’s 16,000 mines.

An average of 13 workers are killed every day in the country, with most accidents are blamed on failures to follow safety rules, including a lack of required ventilation or fire control equipment.

Despite pledges by the Chinese government to improve safety, regulations are poorly enforced while the country’s insatiable demand for energy and resources often means many unsafe mines continue to operate.

There were about 3,000 fatalities in mines across China in 2008.

Source: News Agencies