12 killed, 4 missing in two separate coal mine incidents in China

At least 12 people are killed and two are missing in two separate coal mine incidents in China over the last 24 hours, state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday.

The latest incidents involving coal mines follow the government's recent move where they revised mining safety legislation.

According to CCTV on Tuesday, five people were killed while two others were reported missing after an underground coal bunker owned by a firm in Zhongyang County, Shanxi province collapsed right before midnight on Monday.

The bunker is owned by Taoyuan Xinlong Coal Industry Co Ltd and intense rescue efforts are underway, the outlet reported.

The Shanxi incident follows a warning from the mining safety regulator to reduce overproduction, amidst a surge in deaths in China's top producing coal mine region in 2023.

In another incident, seven people were killed while two others are missing following a fatal gas explosion at Huaihe Energy's coal mine in China's eastern Anhui province, CCTV reported late Monday evening.

China recorded a string of deadly coal mine accidents last year, forcing the country's mine safety administration to revamp an existing law that an official said had "prominent problems".

Furthermore, deadly coal mine accidents are common in China as last month, 10 people were killed in an accident in Pingdingshan in central China, prompting safety checks by the local authorities.