Safer mines in ChinaThis is an example of why Chinese government is interested in cracking down on mines in the country, and why they would like to consolidate to reputable mining companies; like SilverCorp, I would hope.
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Mon Feb 18, 8:05 PM ET
BEIJING - An explosion at an illegal mine disguised as a wild boar farm killed 24 people, a Chinese government news agency reported Tuesday.
The explosion in Wu'an City in the northern Hebei Province happened on Sunday, but the local government did not receive reports of it until a day later, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
More than 30 people were initially trapped after the explosion, the agency reported. A rescue operation lasted until just after midnight on Tuesday, according to the news agency.
Five of the survivors were injured and were in stable condition at a hospital, Xinhua said.
The explosion happened at a tunnel whose entrance is located in a pigpen at the farm, the agency said. The cause was not immediately known.
China's mining industry is the most dangerous in the world, averaging 13 deaths a day from fires, explosions and floods. Many of the accidents are blamed on mine owners who disregard safety rules and fail to invest in required ventilation, fire control and other equipment.