Mine accident leaves 18 missing in Hunan

By Tom Qian  |   2008-12-18  |     ONLINE EDITION

EIGHTEEN people are missing after a mine accident yesterday in Hunan Province, Xinhua news agency reported today.

The accident happened at 3:15pm at Dazu Village, Fukou Town of Lianyuan City in the province. A total of 32 miners were underground at the time. Fourteen escaped safely.

The nature of the accident was unclear.

Chen Zhaoxiong, vice governor of the province, rushed to the site along with officials from the provincial work safety administration to oversee the rescue operation.

The Lianyuan government ordered all coal mines in the city to halt operations for safety checks, the report said.

Police have the mine owners in custody and are investigating the case, Xinhua said.

The coal mine was established in 1995 and has an annual capacity of 30,000 tons. The owners planned to double its capacity and safety plans for the increase in production were being reviewed, according to the report.