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Post by billycasper on Jan 26, 2011 8:06:45 GMT -5
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Post by John on Jan 26, 2011 11:38:12 GMT -5
Sad....
Then to top that, breaking news of another tragedy in Columbia, where an explosion ripped through a coal mine killing dozens.
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Post by John on Jan 26, 2011 11:44:26 GMT -5
Figures have changed since the earlier news article I read, down to 20 now.
By DAN MOLINSKI And DARCY CROWE
BOGOTA—Colombian authorities feared at least 20 miners were killed and possibly 10 more were injured Wednesday in a deadly blast in an underground coal mine, continuing a string of fatal accidents in small coal mines geared at producing coal for domestic consumption.
Colombia ranks as one of the world's top coal exporters, and its production destined for abroad is controlled by foreign companies such as Glencore International AG and BHP Billiton Ltd., which operate in open-pit coal mines. Small locally owned mining companies, meanwhile, continue to produce for the local market in underground coal mines that have little oversight.
Wednesday's blast occurred at the La Preciosa mine in northeastern Colombia, the same place where 32 miners were killed in a 2007 accident.
Angel Rodriguez, an official in the northeastern town of Sardinata, located close to the mine, said four bodies were already pulled from the mine and said at least one other injured miner died after being extricated.
The mayor of the town, Yamile Rangel, told local radio that 30 miners were inside when the explosion occurred and said there's only a slight chance anyone survived.
A lethal explosion in an underground coal mine in June last year killed about 70 people, and authorities estimate that nearly 100 miners in all died last year in accidents.
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