20000312

23 die

in China

BEIJING: Twenty-three miners died in explosions that ripped through two coal mines in southwest China's Sichuan province, a local daily said on Saturday.

Twelve miners died on Wednesday in a blast in a mine near the tourist resort town of Emeishan, the Yangcheng evening news said, adding the manager of the mine had been arrested.

Another 11 miners were found dead the same day in another mine year Yibing city, the daily said but gave no details.

According to official figures, mining accidents killed 7,423 people in China 1998, while 3,464 died in the first nine months of 1999.

Most of the fatalities occur in gas explosions in the country's many coal mines.

China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal, which accounts for 75 percent of its fuel needs.ÑAFP