Coal mines threaten lives and livelihoods

Illegal coal mines in Beijing's Fangshan district continue to pose serious safety threats despite government efforts to shut them down, local residents said.

Early last week, a 46-year-old man from Inner Mongolia died while working underground in an illegal coal mine in Fangshan, the Beijing Times reported yesterday.

Shang Chunsheng had been working in the unlicensed pit for 10 days when the accident occurred, authorities said. The pit owner reportedly transported Shang's remains to Hebei province where he had them cremated in an attempt to hide the worker's death.