The death toll of Shuozhou City’s mining disaster has reached 63 on 21 March while six miners were still missing. A daughter of a missing miner told CLB about her family’s grievances and anger towards the inefficient rescue work. Here is her account of what she witnessed at the coalmine.
Miner’s daughter:
My father used to return home at 3:10pm or 3:20pm. My mother told me that she waited at home till four o’clock and he still did not come back. She was so worried and didn’t know what to do. I was at school till six o’clock and then I went home to attend my mother. [When I got home] she couldn’t walk anymore. We decided to have a look at my dad’s workplace but we didn’t know the way. We hired a tricycle to bring us there. It was so crowded there; my mother and I couldn’t find a place to stand. Yet, we knew nobody there and the mining company didn’t let us in. Many miners’ families wanted to go in [to the mining company ] but we were all kept outside. The situation was really… some family members [of the dead miners] fainted. The mining company just didn’t let us in, so we stood outside, from seven p.m. to 11 p.m. My mother was too weak to stand and I was not able to utter a word. We just stayed there till 11 p.m. and then finally the mining company let us in. We two were among the last ones to go in. We sat there and nobody told us what to do. We didn’t know anyone to talk to. It ended up that we sat there overnight. Some other families went home and they were accompanied. Only my mother and I stayed there alone. You can’t possibly know how I felt… I was totally lost.
She told CLB that it took the government more than 20 hours before it had sent out a rescue team.
Miner’s daughter:
The accident took place at noon time [on 19 Mar] but by the next morning, at eight a.m., they [the rescue team] hasn’t gone down [to the pit]. They only started moving at eight something.
Han:
So it took them more than 20 hours to go down?
Miner’s daughter:
Yes. They claimed they couldn’t go down, but others said it was possible. You know those people [in the rescue team] have no relatives down there [in the pit] so they wouldn’t care. They wouldn’t bother if there is a risk. Many people said it was still possible to find someone alive [if the rescue team would go down early enough] but now, as you see, they didn’t find anyone alive and many are still missing. I still don’t know if my dad has been found and I wonder if they [the mining company & government] would give me an explanation.
Han:
Is it really the case that the rescue team only started the rescue work 20 hours after the blast?
Miner’s daughter:
Of course! Why should I lie to you? What is the point? My dad lost his life and that wouldn’t be changed if I make this story up. I know it very well, we stayed [at the mining company] awake that whole night. At seven something [in the morning], some people came in. I asked them why they didn’t go down to help and they said they were still thinking about it. What were they thinking? Why it took them more than 20 hours to think about the rescue work? What kind of plan was it? You know I really didn’t know what I could do. I was not able to meet those officials, those important people from the provincial government. All I could see are those armed police. Well, I can’t describe you the scene.
Losing her father, it would be losing the sole breadwinner for the whole family.
Miner’s daughter:
My dad is 53 years old and I have grandparents, they are already old and my mum is quite sick. My younger brother is in the university.
Han:
So your family has two children, you and your brother?
Miner’s daughter:
Right.
Han:
How long had your dad worked as a miner?
Miner’s daughter:
He started working in this miner for about some 20 days and the accident happened.
Han:
Did he know that the mine was operating illegally?
Miner’s daughter:
I didn’t know if he was aware of that. I was studying outside [in the city] and only came back because of this accident.
Han:
Where do you study?
Miner’s daughter:
I study Education in the Teachers College of Shuozhou City.
Han:
Learning to become a teacher?
Miner’s daughter:
Yes.
Han:
When will you graduate?
Miner’s daughter:
Next year.
Han:
Has the mining company talked about compensation terms?
Miner’s daughter:
I don’t know. I have no idea about the next step. All I have in my mind is taking care of my brother and my mum. I couldn’t bear to lose them.
Han:
Was your father working for Xishui Mine or Kangjiayao Mine?
Miner’s daughter:
Xishui Mine.
Han:
Xishui Mine.
Miner’s daughter:
He said he could earn some more money there so that he could send us to universities. You know it is so difficult to earn money and it costs a fortune to attend university.
Han:
So what will your family live on then?
Miner’s daughter:
I don’t know. I have to look for a job and my brother will study. My grandfather and grandmother are already old and I have to take care of my sick mother. Last year when my brother and I went to universities, my relatives paid for my tuition fee and my brother still owes his university the tuition fee.
Han:
Where does your brother study?
Miner’s daughter:
In Kunming [Yunnan Province].
Han:
How much does he need per year?
Miner’s daughter:
Tuition fee and living expenses cost all together about 12,000 Yuan. You know, I was the poorest student in my school and my brother works part-time in the students’ canteen so that he could save the money on meals.
Han:
So how will you deal with the tuition fee?
Miner’s daughter:
I don’t know. I dare not to think about it.
Han:
How old are your grandparents?
Miner’s daughter:
My granddad is 70 and my grandma is 68. They haven’t known it [the death of their son] yet, neither my brother. I am alone and I don’t know what to do, I don’t even know if my dad has been brought up.
Han:
Hmm… I am so sorry to disturb you at this moment.
Miner’s daughter:
Nevermind. I really would pay 200,000 Yuan for having my father back. You know he had a difficult life. My grandparents didn’t care about him when he was a child and only my brother and I love him dearly. We used to plan that when we finished our schools, we would take good care of him. But how could I know… [weeping].
Han:
Well, it happened. How should I put it? Hmm… do take care of yourself. You still have a long way to go.
Miner’s daughter:
I know. I have to take care of my mum.
Han:
Right. Your grandparents would also need you. Does your father have any siblings?
Miner’s daughter:
He has a brother but he was adopted by another family. I have only met him once, we are not familiar at all.
Han:
That means that your grandparents depend on you.
Miner’s daughter:
Right, and they are not able to work.
Han:
How old are you now?
Miner’s daughter:
22.
Han:
What subject do you learn [for being a teacher]?
Miner’s daughter:
English. I guess I can’t go to school this year. I must take time off and take care of my mother. She is really ill.
Han:
Don’t give up! You have to face the reality even such a misfortune happens.
Miner’s daughter:
I know, but I can’t imagine how to handle such a situation. I must be responsible to my brother. I have lost my dad and my brother is the person I love the most. He must continue his studies.
Han:
How about you? You must not give up your studies either.
Miner’s daughter:
I don’t have other choice. I am the eldest child at home and now my dad is gone. I must take care of my brother. I must not let him down.