China - workers die for capitalism

At least 73 people are dead after a blast in a coal mine in China's Shanxi province. But there are hopes that 65 others still trapped underground could be rescued after some used mobile phones to contact their relatives.

Reports said 436 miners were working underground when the accident occurred at the Tunlan mine in Gujiao City near Taiyuan, the provincial capital.

The Xinhua state news agency said 113 miners were in hospital and 21 were in a critical condition.

The gas explosion happened the day after senior provincial officials held a conference about mine safety, in which they pledged to try to put an end to deadly mining accidents.

China's mining industry is the world's most dangerous.

A total of 3,786 coal miners died in gas blasts, floodings and other accidents in 2007 as companies, often flouting safety regulations, rushed to feed demand from a booming economy.

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