Rescuers were active Friday, December 17 in China to reach 21 miners trapped in a coal mine, the authorities promising to crack down on illegal mining activities which have multiplied with soaring prices.
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The workers were trapped Wednesday by the flooding of their mine in Xiaoyi, in Shanxi (north), a large coal-producing province, the New China news agency said.
Hundreds of rescuers were dispatched to the scene of the accident, where three pumps are trying to drain the water accumulated in the galleries to the outside.
According to public television CCTV, operations are complicated by the narrowness of the entrance to this illegal mine and the lack of a precise map of the mine site.
Police say they have already arrested seven suspects and are actively seeking more, including the mine owner.
According to local press, he fled after the accident.
China generates around 60% of its energy from coal.
It has increased production in recent months to cope with a shortage that has resulted in power cuts and forcing factories to close.
Authorities said Thursday that strong demand for hard coal had pushed up prices and encouraged illegal mining activities.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has called on producing provinces to dismantle these illegal mines and launch criminal proceedings against those responsible.
Read alsoAccident in a mine in China: the death toll rises to 23
Mine safety has improved in recent decades in China, as has the media coverage of these incidents, many of which were once overlooked. The national body in charge of mining safety said last week that it had recorded 336 accidents since the start of 2021, 59 less than last year at the same period. But accidents still occur regularly, due to the danger inherent in the sector and the sometimes uncertain application of safety instructions.
In September, 19 miners stranded underground after a coal mine collapsed in northwestern Qinghai province were found dead after extensive searches.
In early 2021, eleven miners from a group of 22 had been rescued in a collapsed mine in Shandong province (east), after spending two weeks stranded hundreds of meters underground.