China to launch safety inspection in collieries

BEIJING - China will launch a new round of safety inspections in collieries nationwide, said Yang Dongliang, head of State Administration of Work Safety, on Tuesday.

Yang stressed that the inspections would be a panoramic and thorough one.

The announcement comes after a deadly colliery blast last Wednesday in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, which caused the death of 45 miners.

For mine owners who push miners to work overtime or under high intensity in order to increase coal output, Yang ordered an immediate halt of production and temporary seizure of business licenses.

While extending condolences to families of the dead miners, Yang urged mine owners to make detailed precautions and implement reliable technical measures to guarantee safety.

Those who fail safety inspections will not be allowed to continue in the mining business, said Yang.