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| Firefighters and police officers move a gurney carrying a miner who was rescued 10 days after being trapped underground by a cave-in, in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province, Nov. 4. Yonhap |
By Lee Kyung-min
A total of 35 risk-prone mines will undergo strenuous on-site inspections before the year's end, as part of efforts to prevent cave-ins, the industry ministry said Wednesday.
The 35 among 325 mines nationwide are where deaths and serious injuries of workers have been reported within the last three years.
The remaining 290 mines will be required to assess their current safety status and accident prevention measures, and submit the information in reports by June next year.
The emergency measures follow the rescue of two miners Nov. 4, who had spent 10 days trapped in a collapsed mine in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province.
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| Second Vice Minister of Trade Industry and Energy Park Il-jun, third from left in the back, speaks during an emergency meeting at the Sejong Government Complex, Wednesday. |
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said tailored inspections will be conducted through December, followed by continued monitoring and public hearings to fortify safety measures to better enhance the working conditions of miners.
"A comprehensive response manual will be outlined," Second Vice Minister of Trade Industry and Energy Park Il-jun said during an emergency meeting at the Sejong Government Complex, Wednesday.
"All authorities should move swiftly for the successful rescue of those in distress, as specified under the manual that will govern the entire process from the moment the 119 call is made until they are rescued safely."
The newly outlined manual will be shared with all miners and mining authorities across the country. The ministry will determine whether the number of safety assurance employees should be increased and by how many, as part of a regular budget review.
Also to be established is a system whereby real-time communication between callers and their families will be ensured.
A team of government and investigative authorities inspected the mine, Nov. 7, to determine the cause of the collapse.
They will verify whether the large amount of material that filled the mine was zinc waste that had been illegally disposed underground, as some have claimed. The National Forensic Service will announce the results after reviewing collected samples.
Whether the claims will be corroborated remains to be seen.
Police searched the headquarters of the mine operator and its smaller partner firms to seize documents and electronically stored safety manuals, late Wednesday.
The two rescued miners were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event, Tuesday, according to Andong Hospital in the province. They will remain hospitalized for at least a week longer than originally planned.
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