12 dead in tunnel blast in southwest China
[BEIJING] Twelve workers died following an explosion in a high-speed rail tunnel in southwestern China, state media said Wednesday, after rescuers spent over 14 hours searching the rubble for survivors.
The blast occurred after gas filled the tunnel, which was being bored in the province of Guizhou, leaving 12 injured and 12 trapped, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Over 2,000 rescue workers searched the tunnel for survivors before ending the operation at 4:45am Wednesday morning, it said.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, the report said, adding that the tunnel was designed to pass through a coal seam.
The country has been on a high-speed rail building spree for over a decade, putting up over 17,000 kilometres of track at a rapid clip, raising concerns about corner-cutting.
Industrial accidents are common in China, where safety regulations are often poorly enforced.
In 2015, the country recorded 66,000 workplace deaths, according to the most recent government statistics.
AFP
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
International
UK wage growth and services inflation too high for rate cut, BOE’s Greene says
US to reduce licensing by 80% for UK, Australia to boost Aukus
IMF tells Asian central banks not to follow Fed too closely
UN chief warns Mideast on brink of 'full-scale regional conflict'
IMF boss says ‘all eyes’ on US amid risks to global economy
UK financial sector seeks stronger accountability of regulators