Last week's flooding at the two mines in eastern China after a nearby river burst its banks was a natural phenomenon, rather than a result of lax safety standards, Civil Affairs Minister Li Xueju told a press conference here.

"After expert analysis, this flooding accident belongs to the category of natural disaster," Li said, emphasising that the victims' relatives therefore legally had no right to compensation.

"China currently has no compensation system for people killed and injured in natural disasters," Li said, although he said the relatives would likely get some goodwill payments from the government and the mine companies.

Relatives of the missing workers, many of whom have clashed with security guards and police at the mine sites in Shandong province while waiting for news of rescue efforts, reacted angrily to the official assessment.

"We can never accept this," one relative told AFP by phone as she waited for news from the Zhangzhuang mine, where 172 of the workers have been missing since Friday.

"I'm going to sue them," she added, declining to be named.

Although rescue efforts are continuing at the Zhangzhuang mine and another one 10 kilometres (six miles) away -- where the other nine workers are missing -- officials have already admitted all 181 are most likely dead.

"I feel very angry," said a brother of a missing miner at the Zhangzhuang mine when asked about Li's comments. He similarly declined to be named for fear of retribution from authorities.

"Yes, the rain was heavy, but the management of the mine should be held responsible for making them work in such conditions."

Sections of China's media had previously put the blame on mine owners and local authorities who ignored warning signals, saying the tragedy could have been avoided.

Workers from an earlier shift, who eventually escaped, reported the rising water levels and submerged work areas, but the management did not immediately respond, the China Daily reported this week.

Another relative of a missing miner, surnamed Zhang, told AFP that it was well known mine bosses ignored the warning signals.

"They were told (about the coming flood waters) before it happened. Other mines in the areas shut down in time and they were fine," he said.

Li's comments that relatives would likely receive goodwill financial help, because the disaster occurred when they were at work, did little to calm tensions.

The brother who did not want to be named said that the amount of money would likely be much less than a proper work accident compensation.

"I won't accept that kind of arrangement," he said. "I'm prepared to petition the central government -- the local government is just too corrupt."

China's coal mines are infamous for being riddled with corruption, with local authorities and industry bosses colluding to put profits ahead of work safety.

More than 4,700 coal miners died last year, according to official figures, but independent labour groups put the real toll at up to 20,000 annually, saying many accidents are covered up.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
Surviving the Pits

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS Solar Energy Solutions Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ... Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News