Tin Mine Disaster Finally Confirmed
As many as 300 miners are feared to have drowned in a tin mine in southern Chinas Guangxi Autonomous Region. Provincial officials confirmed that the accident had taken place, despite denials from local county authorities. Unconfirmed reports of the tragedy began appearing on mainland newspaper websites following a report in the Sichuan-based Tianfu Morning News on July 30. The paper said that over 200 miners were trapped by floodwater that had rushed into the shaft from an adjacent disused mine.
Guangxis work safety department said that it had sent an investigation team to Nandan county where the mine is located, but would not confirm the accident until the team had reported back. However an official from the department, who would only identify himself as Zhou, said that water was still being pumped out of the mine and only then could a full report on the number of victims be made. This is despite the fact that the accident took place on July 17, two weeks ago. On Monday July 30, a Guangxi TV station ran a news flash that put the number of people trapped as high as 300. A Nandan county resident, named Lu, said that the Longjing Chemical Industry Company Ltd. owns the mine.
Local people told reporters that accidents were common at the mine but officials turned a blind eye as tin is a major source of income for the region. Local protectionism has also been cited as complicating the issue.
(China: China Daily 02/08/01 and various reports)
As many as 300 miners are feared to have drowned in a tin mine in southern Chinas Guangxi Autonomous Region. Provincial officials confirmed that the accident had taken place, despite denials from local county authorities. Unconfirmed reports of the tragedy began appearing on mainland newspaper websites following a report in the Sichuan-based Tianfu Morning News on July 30. The paper said that over 200 miners were trapped by floodwater that had rushed into the shaft from an adjacent disused mine.
Guangxis work safety department said that it had sent an investigation team to Nandan county where the mine is located, but would not confirm the accident until the team had reported back. However an official from the department, who would only identify himself as Zhou, said that water was still being pumped out of the mine and only then could a full report on the number of victims be made. This is despite the fact that the accident took place on July 17, two weeks ago. On Monday July 30, a Guangxi TV station ran a news flash that put the number of people trapped as high as 300. A Nandan county resident, named Lu, said that the Longjing Chemical Industry Company Ltd. owns the mine.
Local people told reporters that accidents were common at the mine but officials turned a blind eye as tin is a major source of income for the region. Local protectionism has also been cited as complicating the issue.
(China: China Daily 02/08/01 and various reports)