12-26-2005

中國關閉2400座煤礦下令支付安全基金 (China Shuts 2,400 Coal Mines, Orders Safety Bonds Paid)

中國政府表示，今年關閉了大約2千4百座違反安全規定的煤礦，並且將開始要求煤礦交付安全基金。

官方媒體報導說，中國國家煤礦安全監察局官員將要求所有煤礦預付可最高達74萬美元的事故保證金。

媒體報導說，保證金的數目將根據產量有所不同。設立基金是為了支付援救工作和向遇難者進行賠償。

有關當局說，今年有將近1萬3千座煤礦由於安全原因被勒令停產。

中國的煤礦是世界上最危險的，據報導每年有超過5千人死於大火、透水和其他礦難。

China's government says it has closed about 24-hundred coal mines for safety violations this year and will start requiring mines to post safety bonds.

Official state media report that Chinese (State Administration of Coal Mine Work Safety) safety officials will require all coal mines to pay deposits of up to 740-thousand dollars as guarantees against accidents.

The media said the deposit money will vary depending on production. The money will be held to pay for rescue efforts and compensation to victims.

Authorities say nearly 13-thousand coal mines were ordered to suspend operations due to safety issues this year.

China's coal mines are the world's deadliest, with more than five-thousand deaths reported every year in fires, floods and other disasters.

中國酒吧失火26人死亡8人受傷 (China Bar Fire Kills 26, Injures 8)

中國廣東省中山市一家酒吧聖誕日那天被大火吞沒，至少26人遇難，另有8人受傷。大火發生在星期天午夜前。在這個酒吧慶祝耶誕節的目擊者說，大火前發生了爆炸。在清理廢墟的同時，警方封鎖了出事的建築物和附近的街道。事故原因正在調查中。

近年來，過耶誕節在奉行無神論的中國人中間越來越流行，成為一種時尚風氣。

A Christmas day fire gutted a bar in south China, killing at least 26 people and injuring another eight.

The fire broke out before midnight (1600 UTC) Sunday at a bar in the city of Zhongshan in Guangdong province. Witnesses celebrating Christmas at the bar said there was an explosion just before the fire. Police cordoned off the building and nearby roads while debris was cleaned up. The incident is under investigation.

Christmas has been gaining popularity in recent years among atheist Chinese, who find it fashionable to celebrate.