All kinds of small coal mines in Sichuan Province in southwest China were forced to stop operation and await safety inspection, according to an urgent circular released by the Sichuan provincial government Sunday night.
Coal mine accidents in Sichuan in May, which killed 12 people with 46 others missing, was a wake-up call for the local government concerning the safety conditions in small-sized coal mines.
All small coal mines were required to abide by a government circular for banning operation in small-sized coal mines, and those large-sized coal mines in the province were urged to examine safety conditions and improve their safety precautions.
The province will send eight working team to the localities for safety inspection in coal mines.
(People's Daily 05/22/2001)
