Over 250 Dead in Chinese Land Slide
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Sunday, September 14, 2008
An industrial landslide which engulfed a small mining community in central China is now known to have killed 254 people
More than a dozen mine officials were arrested over the incident on Monday and the local Communist Party head was sacked amid accusations of negligence.
A dam holding back sludge at the Tashan iron ore mine in Shanxi province burst after torrential rain. Searchers have covered 90% of the area affected but more bodies may be found.
Frequent mining accidents in China are blamed on lax safety standards and ageing infrastructure. Thirteen officials from the Tashan Mining Co, which ran the illegal iron ore operation, were arrested. Other local officials were sacked in addition to the Party head.
"It is the most grave accident that involves the largest death toll so far this year," said Wang Jun, director of the State Administration of Work Safety. "The rising accidents disclose local governments' poor supervision on work safety. Those responsible must be dealt with seriously."