60 more coal mines closed despite the country’s energy crisis
(ANSA) – BEIJING, OCTOBER 11 – Torrential rains are hindering relief efforts in Shanxi province, in northern China, where according to local media there are over 1.76 million people forced to evacuate, while dozens of coal mines are have been stopped by creating new pressure on the energy crisis that is hitting the country, with the rationing of electricity especially in the northeast.
Bad weather has since last week caused homes to collapse and caused landslides and floods in more than 70 districts and cities of Shanxi, replicating the dramatic scenarios recorded three months ago in Henan province, which cost the lives of over 300 people. Authorities in Shanxi, which is also home to several ancient monuments, have been forced to evacuate more than 120,000 people, according to the official Xinhua news agency, while 17,000 homes have collapsed. Four police officers also died as a result of a landslide, the Global Times tabloid reported.
Average rainfall of about 185.6 mm last week poured into the capital Taiyuan compared to 25 mm in October relative to between 1981 and 2010.
Shanxi is an important coal mining and production province, but activities have been suspended due to rains at a critical time. China is already facing an energy shortage that has caused electricity supply to ports, factories and even homes to be blocked.
The local government said it had suspended production in 60 coal mines (in addition to 27 shutdowns on 4 October), 372 non-coal mines and 14 hazardous chemical factories in the province. (HANDLE).