China cranks up coal mine crack down
Authorities in northeasten China's Jilin province ordered that 70 mines near the city of Shulan suspend their operations following a flood that trapped 16 workers in an adjacent coal mine. The provincial government said that the mines in question must submit to safety checks before they will be allowed to reopen. Those that fail to meet the required standards will be shut down permanently. Jilin's move follows that of Guangdong province in southeastern China. Guangdong authorities shut down several illegal coal mines earlier this month after an explosion at a mine near the city of Xinging. Guangdong has shut down 32 mines so far this year. Mining is one of the most dangerous occupations in China. Around 2'700 people have died in mining related accidents through the first half of the year in China.