12 Killed in Two Coal Mine Explosions in China

Official Chinese media reported that 12 people were killed in separate incidents at coal mines in China in the last 24 hours, marking the latest in a series of incidents facing the industry following the recent government review of mining safety legislation. The television reported on Tuesday that a coal storage facility owned by a company in Zhongyang County, Shanxi Province, collapsed shortly before midnight on Monday, resulting in the death of 5 people and the disappearance of 2 others. It added that the facility is owned by Taoyuan Qinlong Coal Industry Co., and that intensive rescue efforts are currently ongoing. This deadly incident in Shanxi follows a notice issued last month by the provincial mining safety authority, urging mines to reduce overproduction to prevent accidents. In another incident, China Central Television stated that 7 people died and 2 others were missing after a gas explosion at a coal mine operated by Yahui Energy in Anhui Province, eastern China, on Monday. In 2023, China has experienced a series of deadly coal mine accidents, leading the national mining safety administration to revise an existing law that an official described as having "major issues."