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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| China mining toll 'falls' in 2008 | China mining toll 'falls' in 2008 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| China says the number of fatalities from coal mining accidents fell 15% in 2008 compared with the previous year. | |
| China's state news agency Xinhua also reported that the number of accidents fell by 19% to 413,700 last year. | China's state news agency Xinhua also reported that the number of accidents fell by 19% to 413,700 last year. |
| China's State Administration of Work Safety said the death rate in mining accidents was just over 1%. There was no figure for actual number of deaths. | China's State Administration of Work Safety said the death rate in mining accidents was just over 1%. There was no figure for actual number of deaths. |
| It quoted officials as saying that tougher law enforcement and the closing down of illegal mines had helped. | It quoted officials as saying that tougher law enforcement and the closing down of illegal mines had helped. |
| However, government figures show that almost 80% of the 16,000 mines operating in China are illegal. | However, government figures show that almost 80% of the 16,000 mines operating in China are illegal. |
| Xinhua quoted Zhao Tiechui, senior official in charge of coal mine supervision, urging harder work on safety and accident prevention in the coming year. | Xinhua quoted Zhao Tiechui, senior official in charge of coal mine supervision, urging harder work on safety and accident prevention in the coming year. |
| "Coal mines often experience the most serious accidents because so many of them are operating illegally. The industry also sees the most frequent covering-up of accidents," Mr Zhao said. | "Coal mines often experience the most serious accidents because so many of them are operating illegally. The industry also sees the most frequent covering-up of accidents," Mr Zhao said. |
| 'Year of Work Safety' | 'Year of Work Safety' |
| The China Daily reported that the number of traffic accidents, firework accidents and other industrial accidents also fell significantly last year because of improved supervision. | The China Daily reported that the number of traffic accidents, firework accidents and other industrial accidents also fell significantly last year because of improved supervision. |
| Announcing a "Year of Work Safety", Luo Lin, head of the work and safety administration, said more measures would be launched to ensure accident rates continued to fall, the newspaper reported. | Announcing a "Year of Work Safety", Luo Lin, head of the work and safety administration, said more measures would be launched to ensure accident rates continued to fall, the newspaper reported. |
| But despite the overall decline in accident and fatality numbers, Mr Luo was quoted as saying the number of serious accidents last year was up by more than 35% on 2007. | But despite the overall decline in accident and fatality numbers, Mr Luo was quoted as saying the number of serious accidents last year was up by more than 35% on 2007. |
| Almost 3,500 officials were investigated and 425 were arrested last year for negligence in relation to mining accidents, he said. | Almost 3,500 officials were investigated and 425 were arrested last year for negligence in relation to mining accidents, he said. |
| The scandal linked to the collapse of an iron ore reservoir at a mine in Shanxi province resulted in 34 officials being dismissed, he said. | The scandal linked to the collapse of an iron ore reservoir at a mine in Shanxi province resulted in 34 officials being dismissed, he said. |
| "Illegal production and cover-ups are still too frequent in the industry, and some local governments and corporations remain ignorant of their responsibilities with regard to work safety," Mr Luo said. | "Illegal production and cover-ups are still too frequent in the industry, and some local governments and corporations remain ignorant of their responsibilities with regard to work safety," Mr Luo said. |