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North China mud-rock flow death toll rises to 151

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-11 21:07

TAIYUAN - The death toll from a rain-triggered mud-rock flow in north China's Shanxi Province rose to 151 as of Thursday afternoon, with 35 injured, the local rescue headquarters said.

A damaged house is seen at the mudslide area in Xiangfen county, Shanxi province, September 11, 2008. [Agencies] More photos

The State Council, China's Cabinet, has set up an accident investigation team, including officials from the State Administration of Work Safety, Shanxi provincial government, Ministry of Supervision, Ministry of Land and Resources, and All China Federation of Trade Unions.

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The team, headed by Wang Jun, the State Administration of Work Safety director, also invited the Supreme People's Procuratorate to assist in the investigation.

After a preliminary investigation, the team believed it was an "accident of grave responsibility" resulting from the illegal operation of an unlicensed ore mine.

"It is the most grave accident that involves the largest death toll so far this year," Wang said. "The rising accidents disclose local governments' poor supervision on work safety. Those responsible must be dealt with seriously."

As of 8 p.m. Thursday, a rescue team of more than 3,000 people, with the aid of 160 excavators, was continuing the rescue operation.

The injured, except one seriously hurt, were in stable conditions, doctors said.

The disaster happened around 8 a.m. Monday when the bank of a pond holding waste ore dregs burst at the Tashan Mine in Xiangfen County, Linfen City.

In total, 268,000 cubic meters of sludge deluged over an area of 30.2 hectares. The mud-rock flow damaged buildings, trade markets and some residences lying about 500 meters downstream.

Rescue work is underway and the specific number of people trapped underneath the rubble is still under investigation.