中文
An accident occurred at a coal mine in Northeastern China's Heilongjiang province on December 20, killing 12 people and injuring 13 others, state media CCTV reported on December 21.
The accident took place at around 3:50 p.m. at Kunyuan mine located in Hengshan district of Jixi city.
All the injured have been rushed to hospital for treatment. Five of them were said to be in critical condition, the report said.
The privately-owned Kunyuan mine had a designed production capacity of 300,000 tonnes per annum and obtained its safety permit on December 15, according to the statement.
Preliminary investigation showed the accident happened in an underground inclined haulageway about 600 meters long and with a dip angle of 15-20 degrees, which uses belt-rail hybrid transportation system.
Four loaded shuttle cars and one flat car carrying mining tools were being hoisted to the entrance when the wire rope snapped, causing death and injuries to workers who were illegally riding on the cars, the statement said.
The mine operator initially covered up the accident, it added. Local authorities have set up an investigation team to determine the exact cause of the accident as rescue efforts continue.
China's coal mining sector has suffered a series of accidents this year, even as the government strengthened safety measures.
Last month, 11 people were killed in a rock burst at a coal mine in Heilongjiang.
The accident came on the same day when the central government called to secure energy supply in extreme weather conditions.
"It is uncertain how the accident will tighten safety security in the coal sector, but the overall supply seems not to be affected," a miner source pointed out.
(Writing by Alex Guo Editing by Harry Huo)
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