Three people sentenced to life imprisonment for mine blast claiming 105 lives in N. China
25/2/2008 16:57
Three people were sentenced to life imprisonment for a coal mine gas blast
that killed 105 miners and injured 18 others in north China's Shanxi Province in
December last year. The three are legal representative Wang Hongliang,
investor Wang Donghai of Ruizhiyuan Coal Mining Co Ltd, and Kong Huiping, a
manager in charge of production of Xinyao Coal Mine managed by the company,
according to the ruling of a public trial held in a stadium in Linfen City
yesterday. Thirteen other managers, including the colliery manager Gao
Jianmin, vice manager Qin Sanshun, were also given jail terms ranging from one
year to 20 years, said the city court. The company was fined 185.2 million
yuan (US$24.7 million) for illegal trade of explosives, illegal operation of
unproved coal bed and evading tax. The explosion took place at 11:15 p.m. on
Dec. 5 at Xinyao Coal Mine, Hongtong County, when 128 miners were working in the
shaft, far more than the maximum of 60 miners for one shift as approved by
Shanxi coal mine authority. The accident left 105 people dead, eight injured
and also caused an economic loss of 42 million yuan (US$5.6 million). The
court said the Ruizhiyuan company kept increasing the output of No. 2 coal bed
in the Xinyao Coal Mine since 2004. It also worked on the No. 9 coal bed without
approval, despite its designed production capacity of 210,000 tons a year. To
conceal their illegal operation, the company even built a secret pass between
the two coal beds and closed the entrance during authorities' inspection. The
explosion occurred in a 40-meter tunnel of the No. 9 coal bed which was not
equipped with any ventilating facilities. Gas density accumulated beyond the
safety required limit and the sparks triggered the blast. The colliery
managers delayed reporting the accident to local authorities while sending other
workers down the shaft for rescue operations, the court said.
Xinhua
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