In the northeastern province of Heilongjiang in China, a coal mine accident occurred on Wednesday, resulting in a tragic loss of 12 lives, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday. The incident took place at the Kunyuan coal mine in the city of Jixi, and in addition to the fatalities, 13 individuals sustained injuries. The investigative process is currently underway to determine the cause of the accident, according to the broadcaster's information.
Despite the Chinese government's persistent efforts to strengthen safety enforcement measures, the coal mining sector in the country has experienced a series of high-profile accidents throughout the year. A notice issued by China's cabinet in November highlighted that these incidents have brought attention to issues such as "inadequate coordination of development and safety, failure of the main safety responsibilities of mining enterprises, and weak mine safety foundations." This underscores the ongoing challenges and concerns related to safety in the Chinese coal mining industry.
