China takes measures to curb coalmine accidents
(crienglish.com)
Updated: 2005-08-23 17:19

An official from the State Administration of Coalmine Safety said that governments at all-levels are taking drastic measures to curb coalmine accidents.

Song Yuanming, director of the security supervision under the administration made the comment Tuesday in an interview with China Radio International.

He said there are more than 7,000 coalmines that did not apply for production safety licenses or had their production lines stopped by the coalmine safety authority. Government has ordered these coalmines to make production safety plans by the end of the year. If the coalmines fail to do so, they are going to be shut down.

Telephones hotlines and mailboxes have also been set up to help find the illegal operation of coalmines.

The number of dead and missing coalminers has seen an increase of 70% in the past seven months compared to the same period last year.