Li Jiheng, secretary of the CPC Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Committee, came to the Baoshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital on the morning of Dec 4 to meet miners injured during Saturday’s gas explosion at a colliery of the Baoma Mining Company in Chifeng.

Li Jiheng (second from right), secretary of the CPC Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Committee, pays a visit to a miner injured during the gas explosion at a colliery of Baoma Mining Company in Chifeng, at the Baoshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital on the morning of Dec 4. [Photo/nmgnews.com]

After hearing of the accident, Li Jiheng finished his inspection in Alxa League ahead of schedule and hurried to Chifeng, arriving at the accident scene at around 10:30 am on Dec 4. At the damaged colliery, Li gave instructions regarding the rescue work and aftermath arrangements after being briefed on the current situation. During the visit, he shook hands with the rescuers and praised their efforts in searching for survivors.

Around 11:30 am, Li Jiheng paid a visit to injured miners sent to the Baoshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, during which he expressed much concern for the miners’ physical heath as well as psychological wellbeing.

At the hospital, Li listened to a report about present rescue operations and treatment of the injured miners, and then stressed that the medical personnel should pour effort into helping these miners while simultaneously help relieve their families’ mood.

Li Jiheng, secretary of the CPC Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Committee, arrives at the accident site of the colliery explosion at the Baoma Mining Company in Chifeng to help coordinate rescue and aftermath work outside the mine on Dec 4. [Photo/China Youth Daily]

At 2:30 pm, Li convened a meeting to assess the rescue teams’ deployment, the injury treatments, and the bereaved settlements delivered by the Chifeng municipal Party committee and the local government. At the beginning of the meeting, all attendants stood for a silent moment of mourning for the casualties.

During the meeting, Li pointed out the highest priority at the moment is to rescue and treat the injured miners by all means possible, and to console the bereaved families with sincere sympathy alongside the corresponding fund compensation.

Furthermore, Li stressed that the local Party committee and the government should cooperate with the accident investigation squad assembled by the State Council, and dig out the cause of the incident and suspend suspected people in charge as soon as possible.

Li urged the local government to update the public with timely news and information concerning the accident.

A region-wide examination on safety work should be implemented soon, aiming to strictly screen hidden dangers within factories and workshops, and also detect loopholes in administrative supervision. The construction of local safety commissions and the force of safety supervision should be further enhanced to guarantee regional work safety, Li added.

Wang Bo, vice president of the regional government, along with other officials also visited the injured miners and attended the report meeting.

Rescuers discuss with staff from the Baoma Mining Company about rescue deployment at an emergency command center near the accident site on Dec 4. [Photo/China Youth Daily]