Yet another tragic mining accident has claimed more than 100 lives on the mainland.
What is particularly depressing is that the casualty count for Thursday's disaster in a coal mine in Jixi, Heilongjiang, is likely to constitute just over one per cent of the mining industry's annual death toll. That is based on the assumption that about 10,000 people, as in 2001, will be killed in mines across the country this year.
Sadly, the assumption can be safely made because there are no signs that attempts by the authorities to improve safety in the shafts and close unsafe mines will be effective in reducing accidents.
For one thing, the latest mishap has taken place while a nation-wide campaign on industrial safety is underway, with the month of June declared 'national safety production month'.
The mine concerned is run by the state-owned Jixi Mining Corporation. Only in April, an explosion in another mine operated by the company killed 24 and injured 39.
After Thursday, all mines in Jixi have been closed for safety inspection, as happened after April's accident. Hopefully, when they are re-opened, the mines will really be safe. But past experience has shown that we cannot be too optimistic the mines will not be struck by another major disaster.
