State media reported that the rock burst - an explosion caused by the sudden release of built-up pressure - happened shortly after an earthquake.
Growing anger has been recently arisen as state media reports have shown that hundreds of Chinese miners die every year in pit accidents. The industry is one of the most dangerous in the world, and is notorious for its lax safety standards. Earlier this week a gas explosion at a mine in neighboring Hunan province killed 29 people.
However, officials insist the country‘s record is improving, and say they have taken action by closing many illegal mines.
Despite the backlash though, a representative for the state-run Yima Coal Group, which runs the Sanmenxia mine, told the AFP news agency an “intense search” was going on for the missing miners. Local safety officials said 75 miners had been working in the pit at the time of the explosion.
Rescuers told state-run Xinhua news agency they had saved seven miners, leaving 50 others trapped.
(아주경제 앤드류 이 기자)
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