AlHijjah 14, 1432, Nov 10, 2011, SPA -- Killing 20 miners and trapping another 23, a powerful gas burst in an illegally-operated coal mine in southwest China on Thursday brought about the second deadly Chinese coal mine disaster in a week, raising the alarm for mining safety in the country. Ventilation machines are now pumping excessive methane gas out from the shaft while hundreds of rescuers take turns to descend into the pit to find the trapped miners at Sizhuang Coal Mine near the city of Qujing, Yunnan province. Coal dust that was forced out of the shaft by the powerful burst covered the ground for 10 meters around the pit, Xinhua reported. Local work safety officials said the private mine, with an annual output capacity of 90,000 tonnes, was operating without a license when the accident occurred. The mine's license was revoked a year ago. A preliminary investigation showed that the gas leak occurred at one platform inside the shaft but gas later spread to another platform, trapping a total of 43 miners in the two areas at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday. Instead of "gas leak," the Qujing municipal government said earlier that a "gas explosion" had ripped through the mine. A handful of tired-looking, dust-covered firemen coming out from the shaft told Xinhua that they descended into the pit only to find 20 bodies. Rescuers took life detectors and toxic air monitors with them. The area was cordoned off by police while 30 ambulances parked inside.
