The central government has ordered all coal mines in low-lying areas to stop production during heavy rains in the wake of yesterday's tragedy in Shandong , where scores of miners were trapped underground and feared dead.
In its urgent directive, the State Administration of Work Safety ordered all coal mines to check their facilities and consolidate underground channels.
Coal mines near rivers, lakes and reservoirs were instructed to build anti-flood dykes and dams around the mines and double check their drainage systems, Xinhua reported.
The directive also asked mine operators to communicate regularly with local observatories and flood-control agencies throughout the wet season.
It said mines that could be exposed to flooding or landslides had to stop production on rainy days.
The directive said local authorities had to improve their readiness against similar disasters and accidents. They had to start stockpiling rescue materials, set up rescue teams and carry out emergency exercises.
The order came after a series of mine accidents caused by flooding and bad weather in recent weeks. In the latest tragedy, scores of miners were trapped underground in two shafts in Shandong on Friday afternoon after a river burst through a levee and poured into the mines.