China coalmine collapse traps 12
A coalmine collapse trapped 12 miners in northern China on Friday, the state-run Xinhua news agency said, the latest accident in an industry plagued by corruption and safety hazards.
The mine in the coal-rich Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region collapsed early in the morning, regional mining authorities told Xinhua.
Coal mine accidents are common in China, where work safety is often neglected by bosses seeking a quick profit.
Last week, at least 34 workers were killed after a blast at a mine in China's southwestern province of Yunnan, Xinhua reported on November 13, three days after that accident.
China's rapid economic growth has brought rising demand for power. It relies on coal for 70 percent of its energy needs, making it the world's largest consumer of the fossil fuel.
Last year, 2,433 people died in coal mining accidents in the country, according to official statistics -- a rate of more than six workers per day.
Labour rights groups, however, say the actual death toll is likely to be much higher, partly due to under-reporting of accidents as mine bosses seek to limit their economic losses and avoid punishment.
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