The death toll in the roof collapse accident at a coal mine in northwestern China rose to 21 on Saturday.

According to initial reports, 19 people were reported to have died in the incident and two others were had gone missing.

The death toll rose after the rescuers found two more bodies of trapped miners on Sunday.

The authorities had earlier rescued 66 people from the site.

Around 87 people were working at the mining site at the time of the incident.

The incident happened at around 4:30 pm local time at the Lijiagou coal mine of the Baiji Mining Co. Ltd. in the city of Shenmu, local news&nbsp;stated.

The authorities have also launched an operation to investigate the cause of the accident.

Though the death resulting from accidents&nbsp;at the site have fallen sharply over the years, the mining industry is still considered as the deadliest in the world.

The death toll in the roof collapse accident at a coal mine in northwestern China rose to 21 on Saturday. According to initial reports, 19 people were reported to have died in the incident and two others were had gone missing.

The death toll in the roof collapse accident at a coal mine in northwestern China rose to 21 on Saturday. According to initial reports, 19 people were reported to have died in the incident and two others were had gone missing. The death toll rose after the rescuers found two more bodies of trapped miners on Sunday. The authorities had earlier rescued 66 people from the site. Around 87 people were working at the mining site at the time of the incident. The incident happened at around 4:30 pm local time at the Lijiagou coal mine of the Baiji Mining Co. Ltd. in the city of Shenmu, local news stated. The authorities have also launched an operation to investigate the cause of the accident. Though the death resulting from accidents at the site have fallen sharply over the years, the mining industry is still considered as the deadliest in the world.

21 dead in northwest China coal mine accident

In yet another mine-related mishap, two people lost their lives after a coal mine collapsed in Mooknor village on Sunday.

S Nongtnger, SP, East Jaintia Hills said, "It is suspected that boulders hit them while they were trying to extract coal. The investigation is underway to identify the owner of the quarry."

Meanwhile, the operation to rescue the miners who have been trapped in a mine at Ksan near Lyteiñ River in East Jaintia Hills is still underway.

Fire service operated their pumps for 7 hours and 6.30 hours respectively from shaft No. 2 and 3.

One pump was started at 10:00 am and another pump was started at 10.30 am respectively.

The water from both the shafts reduced by 4 feet but due to heavy seepage from other shafts, the water level increased and only 2 feet water has been reduced.

A total 12,15,000 litres water has so far been pumped out from both the shafts.

The Indian Navy divers and the NDRF jointly assisted the Coal India in their works. The miners have been stuck in the mine since December 13 last year.&nbsp;

In yet another mine-related mishap, two people lost their lives after a coal mine collapsed in Mooknor village on Sunday. S Nongtnger, SP, East Jaintia Hills said, "It is suspected that boulders hit them while they were trying to extract coal.

In yet another mine-related mishap, two people lost their lives after a coal mine collapsed in Mooknor village on Sunday. S Nongtnger, SP, East Jaintia Hills said, "It is suspected that boulders hit them while they were trying to extract coal. The investigation is underway to identify the owner of the quarry." Meanwhile, the operation to rescue the miners who have been trapped in a mine at Ksan near Lyteiñ River in East Jaintia Hills is still underway. Fire service operated their pumps for 7 hours and 6.30 hours respectively from shaft No. 2 and 3. One pump was started at 10:00 am and another pump was started at 10.30 am respectively. The water from both the shafts reduced by 4 feet but due to heavy seepage from other shafts, the water level increased and only 2 feet water has been reduced. A total 12,15,000 litres water has so far been pumped out from both the shafts. The Indian Navy divers and the NDRF jointly assisted the Coal India in their works. The miners have been stuck in the mine since December 13 last year.

Meghalaya: 2 dead after another coal mine collapses

Meghalaya miners rescue: Navy divers attempt another mission

A group of Indian Navy divers arrived from Vishakhapatnam Saturday to join operations underway to rescue 15 miners trapped in a flooded rat-hole coal <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/meghalaya-miners-rescue-three-helmets-have-been-recovered-says-ndrf-187110">mine in Meghalaya</a> since December 13, a senior official said.

The 15-member team, equipped with specialised diving equipment including a re-compression chamber and remotely operated vehicles capable of searching underwater, went straightway to the mine site in the&nbsp;remote Lumthari village in East Jaintia Hills district.

They were thoroughly briefed by the NDRF personnel, who were supervising the entire rescue operations since their arrival on December 14, a senior official of the East Jaintia Hills district said.

A team of rescuers with 10 high-powered Kirloskar pumps has also reached the spot from Bhubaneshwar, District Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtynger told PTI.

The mechanical teams are doing the preparatory works and the pumps are expected to begin operations any time now, the SP added.

Another 8 high powered pumps mobilised by Coal India Ltd are on the road and are expected to arrive in another 2 to 3 days, North Eastern Coalfields general manager J Bora said.

Pump manufacturing company Kirloskar Brothers Ltd and Coal India were jointly moving 18 high-powered pumps to drain water out of the 37-foot-deep mine.&nbsp;

The rat-hole mine located on top of a hillock fully covered with trees had got flooded when water from the nearby Lytein river gushed into it on December 13, trapping the 15 diggers.

Pumping of water from the mine was suspended on Saturday last as there was no visible receding of the water level in it. The district authorities had written to the state government seeking high-powered pumps as the two 25 hp pumps, which were being used, were found to be inadequate, an official of the NDRF, which is involved in the rescue operation, said.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF )on Thursday contradicted media reports which quoted it as saying the trapped minors were suspected to be dead on the basis of the foul odour the force's divers had smelt when they had gone inside the mine.

It said the foul smell could be due to the stagnant water in the mine as pumping had been halted for more than 48 hours.

A PTI reporter who went to the site on Friday reported that the mine is located on top of a hillock fully covered with trees. To reach the mine, a person has to pass the 30-foot wide Lytein river three times.

No habitation was found nearby and 80-90 illegal coal mines dot the area.

The reporter was told by locals that the illegal private mine was closed for a long time and opened for mining 2-3 days before the miners were trapped on December 13.

The mine is owned by Krip Schullet, a local who has been arrested since the incident came to the adminstration's knowledge, state officials said.

Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually 3-4 feet high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed "rat-holes" as each just about fits one person.

A group of Indian Navy divers arrived from Vishakhapatnam Saturday to join operations underway to rescue 15 miners trapped in a flooded rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya since December 13, a senior official said.

A group of Indian Navy divers arrived from Vishakhapatnam Saturday to join operations underway to rescue 15 miners trapped in a flooded rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya since December 13, a senior official said. The 15-member team, equipped with specialised diving equipment including a re-compression chamber and remotely operated vehicles capable of searching underwater, went straightway to the mine site in the remote Lumthari village in East Jaintia Hills district. They were thoroughly briefed by the NDRF personnel, who were supervising the entire rescue operations since their arrival on December 14, a senior official of the East Jaintia Hills district said. A team of rescuers with 10 high-powered Kirloskar pumps has also reached the spot from Bhubaneshwar, District Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtynger told PTI. The mechanical teams are doing the preparatory works and the pumps are expected to begin operations any time now, the SP added. Another 8 high powered pumps mobilised by Coal India Ltd are on the road and are expected to arrive in another 2 to 3 days, North Eastern Coalfields general manager J Bora said. Pump manufacturing company Kirloskar Brothers Ltd and Coal India were jointly moving 18 high-powered pumps to drain water out of the 37-foot-deep mine. The rat-hole mine located on top of a hillock fully covered with trees had got flooded when water from the nearby Lytein river gushed into it on December 13, trapping the 15 diggers. Pumping of water from the mine was suspended on Saturday last as there was no visible receding of the water level in it. The district authorities had written to the state government seeking high-powered pumps as the two 25 hp pumps, which were being used, were found to be inadequate, an official of the NDRF, which is involved in the rescue operation, said. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF )on Thursday contradicted media reports which quoted it as saying the trapped minors were suspected to be dead on the basis of the foul odour the force's divers had smelt when they had gone inside the mine. It said the foul smell could be due to the stagnant water in the mine as pumping had been halted for more than 48 hours. A PTI reporter who went to the site on Friday reported that the mine is located on top of a hillock fully covered with trees. To reach the mine, a person has to pass the 30-foot wide Lytein river three times. No habitation was found nearby and 80-90 illegal coal mines dot the area. The reporter was told by locals that the illegal private mine was closed for a long time and opened for mining 2-3 days before the miners were trapped on December 13. The mine is owned by Krip Schullet, a local who has been arrested since the incident came to the adminstration's knowledge, state officials said. Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually 3-4 feet high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed "rat-holes" as each just about fits one person.

Meghalaya miners rescue: Indian Navy divers arrive at site, join operations

Meghalaya: Indian Air Force joins mine rescue operation, 20 high-power pumps to be used

Pump manufacturing company Kirloskar Brothers Ltd and Coal India on Friday are jointly moving 18 high-powered pumps to a remote coal mine here where 15 diggers have been trapped since its flooding a fortnight ago, officials said.

The Indian Air Force joined the rescue operation and airlifted 10 pumps from Bhubaneswar. Its personnel have landed in Guwahati, 270 kilometres away from the 370-foot-deep illegal coal mine, they said.

Two surveyors from Kirloskar Brothers Ltd arrived at the site Thursday night from Pune and 10 pumps of the company are on the way to Shillong, East Jaintia Hills district Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtynger told PTI.

General Manager of North Eastern Coalfields J Bora arrived with two officers of the company in the afternoon and they were followed by a 10-member team of experts of the Coal India (CIL) to the site to begin the assesment of the situation, he said.

The illegal rat-hole coal mine is located at Lumthari village near Khliehriat, the headquarters of East Jaintia Hills district. It got flooded when water from nearby Lytein river gushed into it on December 13, trapping the 15 diggers.

Bora said CIL has mobilised eight high-powered pumps from its establishments across the country and the pumps will be transported to the site by road.

The farthest place from where a pump has been mobilised is Bilaspur in Chhatisgarh and the truck carrying it will take three to four days to arrive, Bora said.

The CIL team, he said, will conduct all necessary exercises prior to the arrival of the pumps and it will take about eight hours to complete the fitting of each pump before it can be put into operation.

"We are waiting for the initial 10 high-powered pumps. They will be brought here in the evening today," the SP said.

The high-powered pumps will be transported in trailers from Guwahati till about two kilometres from the accident site. From there vehicles have been requisitioned to carry them to the mine, a senior district official said.

Meanwhile, a 20-member team of the Odisha Fire Services Friday left for Shillong with equipment, including high-powered pumps, high-tech equipment and gadgets to assist the local administration in the search and rescue operation, a report from Bhubaneswar said.

Pumping of water from the mine was suspended on Saturday last as there was no visible receding of the water level in it. The district authorities had written to the state government seeking high-powered pumps as the two 25 hp pumps, which were being used, were found to be inadequate, an official of the NDRF, which is involved in the rescue operation, said.

Kirloskar Brothers had volunteered to provide equipment to drain out the water from the mine to facilitate resumption of the halted search and rescue operation in the rat-hole coal pit.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the national capital Thursday over the coal mine issue.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi had on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the incident.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had on Thursday contradicted media reports which quoted it as saying the trapped minors were suspected dead on the basis of the foul odour the force's divers had smelt when they had gone inside the mine.

It said in a statement that the foul smell could be due to the stagnant water in the mine as pumping had been halted for more than 48 hours.

Two NDRF teams are engaged in the search and rescue operation.

Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually 3-4 feet high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed "rat-holes" as each just about fits one person.&nbsp;

Pump manufacturing company Kirloskar Brothers Ltd and Coal India on Friday are jointly moving 18 high-powered pumps to a remote coal mine here where 15 diggers have been trapped since its flooding a fortnight ago, officials said.

Pump manufacturing company Kirloskar Brothers Ltd and Coal India on Friday are jointly moving 18 high-powered pumps to a remote coal mine here where 15 diggers have been trapped since its flooding a fortnight ago, officials said. The Indian Air Force joined the rescue operation and airlifted 10 pumps from Bhubaneswar. Its personnel have landed in Guwahati, 270 kilometres away from the 370-foot-deep illegal coal mine, they said. Two surveyors from Kirloskar Brothers Ltd arrived at the site Thursday night from Pune and 10 pumps of the company are on the way to Shillong, East Jaintia Hills district Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtynger told PTI. General Manager of North Eastern Coalfields J Bora arrived with two officers of the company in the afternoon and they were followed by a 10-member team of experts of the Coal India (CIL) to the site to begin the assesment of the situation, he said. The illegal rat-hole coal mine is located at Lumthari village near Khliehriat, the headquarters of East Jaintia Hills district. It got flooded when water from nearby Lytein river gushed into it on December 13, trapping the 15 diggers. Bora said CIL has mobilised eight high-powered pumps from its establishments across the country and the pumps will be transported to the site by road. The farthest place from where a pump has been mobilised is Bilaspur in Chhatisgarh and the truck carrying it will take three to four days to arrive, Bora said. The CIL team, he said, will conduct all necessary exercises prior to the arrival of the pumps and it will take about eight hours to complete the fitting of each pump before it can be put into operation. "We are waiting for the initial 10 high-powered pumps. They will be brought here in the evening today," the SP said. The high-powered pumps will be transported in trailers from Guwahati till about two kilometres from the accident site. From there vehicles have been requisitioned to carry them to the mine, a senior district official said. Meanwhile, a 20-member team of the Odisha Fire Services Friday left for Shillong with equipment, including high-powered pumps, high-tech equipment and gadgets to assist the local administration in the search and rescue operation, a report from Bhubaneswar said. Pumping of water from the mine was suspended on Saturday last as there was no visible receding of the water level in it. The district authorities had written to the state government seeking high-powered pumps as the two 25 hp pumps, which were being used, were found to be inadequate, an official of the NDRF, which is involved in the rescue operation, said. Kirloskar Brothers had volunteered to provide equipment to drain out the water from the mine to facilitate resumption of the halted search and rescue operation in the rat-hole coal pit. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the national capital Thursday over the coal mine issue. Congress president Rahul Gandhi had on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the incident. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had on Thursday contradicted media reports which quoted it as saying the trapped minors were suspected dead on the basis of the foul odour the force's divers had smelt when they had gone inside the mine. It said in a statement that the foul smell could be due to the stagnant water in the mine as pumping had been halted for more than 48 hours. Two NDRF teams are engaged in the search and rescue operation. Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually 3-4 feet high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed "rat-holes" as each just about fits one person.

18 high-powered pumps being moved to Meghalaya mining site

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/good-momentum-achieved-in-relations-with-india-china-186424">Good momentum achieved in relations with India: China</a>

A day after Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi concluded his India visit, China's foreign ministry said a good momentum has been achieved in the current China-India relations.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-pm-modi-takes-a-walk-ridges-on-bogibeel-bridge-in-assam-186371">Watch: PM Modi takes a walk, rides on Bogibeel bridge in Assam</a>

PM Modi today inaugurated the rail-road bridge over the Brahmaputra river at Bogibeel near Dibrugarh in Assam today.

The 4.94 km bridge has double line broad gauge rail tracks and upper deck road spread in three lanes. The bridge connects Assam's Dibrugarh to Nharlgun in Itanagar in just four hours.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-bcci-announces-playing-xi-for-boxing-day-test-186410">IND vs AUS: BCCI announces playing XI for Boxing Day Test</a>

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test against Australia.

In the list, both openers Murali Vijay and KL Rahul have been dropped while rookies Hanuma Vihari and debutant Mayank Agarwal will be given the opportunity to open, according to Reuters.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rat-hole-mining-rampant-in-meghalaya-despite-ngt-ban-15-labours-still-trapped-186369">After two weeks, 15 miners still trapped in Meghalaya; search operation suspended</a>

There seems to be no hope at the end of the tunnel for the 15 labourers trapped in a coal mine a fortnight ago, as search operations have been suspended by the Meghalaya government for want of high-powered pumps to flush out water from the pit.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/attackers-hit-libya-foreign-ministry-in-tripoli-one-dead-186382">Watch: Attackers hit Libya foreign ministry in Tripoli; 3 dead</a>

Gunfire and explosions rocked Libya's foreign ministry on Tuesday as attackers stormed the building in the capital Tripoli, killing at least three people.

A car bomb exploded in front of the ministry, after which "three or four assailants" entered, the source told AFP from the scene.

Good momentum achieved in relations with India: China A day after Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi concluded his India visit, China's foreign ministry said a good momentum has been achieved in the current China-India relations.

Good momentum achieved in relations with India: China A day after Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi concluded his India visit, China's foreign ministry said a good momentum has been achieved in the current China-India relations. Watch: PM Modi takes a walk, rides on Bogibeel bridge in Assam PM Modi today inaugurated the rail-road bridge over the Brahmaputra river at Bogibeel near Dibrugarh in Assam today. The 4.94 km bridge has double line broad gauge rail tracks and upper deck road spread in three lanes. The bridge connects Assam's Dibrugarh to Nharlgun in Itanagar in just four hours. IND vs AUS: BCCI announces playing XI for Boxing Day Test The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test against Australia. In the list, both openers Murali Vijay and KL Rahul have been dropped while rookies Hanuma Vihari and debutant Mayank Agarwal will be given the opportunity to open, according to Reuters. After two weeks, 15 miners still trapped in Meghalaya; search operation suspended There seems to be no hope at the end of the tunnel for the 15 labourers trapped in a coal mine a fortnight ago, as search operations have been suspended by the Meghalaya government for want of high-powered pumps to flush out water from the pit. Watch: Attackers hit Libya foreign ministry in Tripoli; 3 dead Gunfire and explosions rocked Libya's foreign ministry on Tuesday as attackers stormed the building in the capital Tripoli, killing at least three people. A car bomb exploded in front of the ministry, after which "three or four assailants" entered, the source told AFP from the scene.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Thirteen miners died and 10 were injured after a fire caused by burning methane erupted in a mine in the east of the Czech Republic, a spokesman said Friday.

"In total, we have 13 dead miners, 11 Polish and two Czech," Ivo Celechovsky, spokesman for the OKD mining company, told AFP.

The accident occurred at the CSM mine in the city of Karvina, about 300 kilometres (200 miles) east of Prague, on Thursday afternoon.

"The blast at the CSM mine is a huge tragedy," tweeted Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who will travel to the site on Friday morning along with his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki.

Celechovsky said on Thursday the dead Polish miners were from the Poland-based Alpex mining company.

"We're one big family, it's a terrible tragedy," a Czech miner told the local Polar TV.

Czech media said Friday the accident occurred at a depth of about 3,000 feet&nbsp;and that the fire had not been put out yet.

OKD, which runs the mine, is controlled by the Czech state and expects to extract five million tonnes of coal this year.

Thirteen miners died and 10 were injured after a fire caused by burning methane erupted in a mine in the east of the Czech Republic, a spokesman said Friday. "In total, we have 13 dead miners, 11 Polish and two Czech," Ivo Celechovsky, spokesman for the OKD mining company, told AFP.

Thirteen miners died and 10 were injured after a fire caused by burning methane erupted in a mine in the east of the Czech Republic, a spokesman said Friday. "In total, we have 13 dead miners, 11 Polish and two Czech," Ivo Celechovsky, spokesman for the OKD mining company, told AFP. The accident occurred at the CSM mine in the city of Karvina, about 300 kilometres (200 miles) east of Prague, on Thursday afternoon. "The blast at the CSM mine is a huge tragedy," tweeted Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who will travel to the site on Friday morning along with his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki. Celechovsky said on Thursday the dead Polish miners were from the Poland-based Alpex mining company. "We're one big family, it's a terrible tragedy," a Czech miner told the local Polar TV. Czech media said Friday the accident occurred at a depth of about 3,000 feet and that the fire had not been put out yet. OKD, which runs the mine, is controlled by the Czech state and expects to extract five million tonnes of coal this year.

13 dead, several injured after fire in Czech mine

Germany will close its last black coal mine on Friday, turning the page on two centuries of mining history in the Ruhr region that helped fuel the country's post-war "economic miracle".

Although the end of the Prosper-Haniel colliery near the western town of Bottrop comes as polluting coal is increasingly under scrutiny, it was cheaper hard coal from abroad, not environmental concerns, that sounded the mine's death knell.

For the remaining 1,500 workers, the final shift promises to be an emotional one, culminating in a ceremony to be attended by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker.

After greeting each other one more time with the traditional miners' call of "Glueck Auf!", shorthand for good luck in opening a new vein, the workers will bring up a symbolic last chunk of black coal before the 150-year-old deep-shaft mine is sealed up.

"There's a heavy sadness now that it's all going to be over soon," 47-year-old miner Thomas Echtermeyer told Bild newspaper, wearing dusty white overalls and yellow hard hat.

Retired pitman Reinhold Adam, 72, who recently visited the mine for a final, nostalgic descent into its belly, told Bild it was "the camaraderie that's so special under ground".

With its own vernacular, songs, football clubs and church services dedicated to Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners, generations-old mining traditions are deeply woven into the fabric of daily life in the region.

As the area's last active mine bows out, many are mourning not just the end of a once-mighty industry but of a way of life.

Powering a nation

Dating back to the 19th century, the coal mines, plants and steel mills that once dotted the Ruhr Valley in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia were long the beating heart of Germany's industrial growth, powering its economic recovery after World War II.

"For 150 years, coal was the country's main energy resource and most important raw material," said historian Franz-Josef Brueggemeier, author of a study on the Ruhr's mining history.

The mines also midwived Germany's oldest political party, the centre-left Social Democrats, who found a large support base for their social struggles among the blue-collar pit workers.

Western Germany's tight grip on the crucial coal and steel sectors inspired France to propose the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, a common market between six countries designed to regulate competition — and a precursor to the European Union.

But Germany's dominance in the hard- or black-coal market started to wane in the 1960s as foreign rivals made it cheaper to import the "black gold".

Today most of the hard coal used in German coal-fired power plants hails from Russia, the United States, Australia and Columbia.

The domestic industry and the tens of thousands of jobs relying on it have for years been kept on life support through government subsidies.

In 2017 alone, the German government spent more than a billion euros propping up hard-coal mining.

Phasing out coal

"(Bringing up) a tonne of German hard coal costs 250 euros ($285), but only sells for 80 euros on the market," said Christof Beike, a spokesman for the RAG Foundation, tasked with managing the Prosper-Haniel site after its closure and helping miners navigate the changes.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's government decided in 2007 to phase out subsidies and close the last black-coal mine by 2018 — giving the workers of Prosper-Haniel 11 years' notice.

The slow farewell has been credited with preventing large-scale upheaval and angry protests, dodging the unrest seen in Margaret Thatcher's Britain in the 1980s when colliery closures provoked mass strikes.

But Germany's farewell to black-coal mining is by no means an exit from coal altogether in a country where the fossil fuel still accounts for almost 40 per cent of its energy mix — partly because of Merkel's decision to ditch nuclear power.

To the dismay of environmentalists, Germany still has numerous open-pit mines that extract lignite or brown coal, which is softer, cheaper and dirtier than black coal.

But it is an industry under growing threat as countries around the world look for ways to phase out fossil fuels to combat climate change.

In Germany, a government-appointed commission will in February announce a roadmap for exiting coal as part of efforts to make the country carbon-neutral by 2050.

Germany will close its last black coal mine on Friday, turning the page on two centuries of mining history in the Ruhr region that helped fuel the country's post-war "economic miracle".

Germany will close its last black coal mine on Friday, turning the page on two centuries of mining history in the Ruhr region that helped fuel the country's post-war "economic miracle". Although the end of the Prosper-Haniel colliery near the western town of Bottrop comes as polluting coal is increasingly under scrutiny, it was cheaper hard coal from abroad, not environmental concerns, that sounded the mine's death knell. For the remaining 1,500 workers, the final shift promises to be an emotional one, culminating in a ceremony to be attended by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker. After greeting each other one more time with the traditional miners' call of "Glueck Auf!", shorthand for good luck in opening a new vein, the workers will bring up a symbolic last chunk of black coal before the 150-year-old deep-shaft mine is sealed up. "There's a heavy sadness now that it's all going to be over soon," 47-year-old miner Thomas Echtermeyer told Bild newspaper, wearing dusty white overalls and yellow hard hat. Retired pitman Reinhold Adam, 72, who recently visited the mine for a final, nostalgic descent into its belly, told Bild it was "the camaraderie that's so special under ground". With its own vernacular, songs, football clubs and church services dedicated to Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners, generations-old mining traditions are deeply woven into the fabric of daily life in the region. As the area's last active mine bows out, many are mourning not just the end of a once-mighty industry but of a way of life. Powering a nation Dating back to the 19th century, the coal mines, plants and steel mills that once dotted the Ruhr Valley in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia were long the beating heart of Germany's industrial growth, powering its economic recovery after World War II. "For 150 years, coal was the country's main energy resource and most important raw material," said historian Franz-Josef Brueggemeier, author of a study on the Ruhr's mining history. The mines also midwived Germany's oldest political party, the centre-left Social Democrats, who found a large support base for their social struggles among the blue-collar pit workers. Western Germany's tight grip on the crucial coal and steel sectors inspired France to propose the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, a common market between six countries designed to regulate competition — and a precursor to the European Union. But Germany's dominance in the hard- or black-coal market started to wane in the 1960s as foreign rivals made it cheaper to import the "black gold". Today most of the hard coal used in German coal-fired power plants hails from Russia, the United States, Australia and Columbia. The domestic industry and the tens of thousands of jobs relying on it have for years been kept on life support through government subsidies. In 2017 alone, the German government spent more than a billion euros propping up hard-coal mining. Phasing out coal "(Bringing up) a tonne of German hard coal costs 250 euros ($285), but only sells for 80 euros on the market," said Christof Beike, a spokesman for the RAG Foundation, tasked with managing the Prosper-Haniel site after its closure and helping miners navigate the changes. Chancellor Angela Merkel's government decided in 2007 to phase out subsidies and close the last black-coal mine by 2018 — giving the workers of Prosper-Haniel 11 years' notice. The slow farewell has been credited with preventing large-scale upheaval and angry protests, dodging the unrest seen in Margaret Thatcher's Britain in the 1980s when colliery closures provoked mass strikes. But Germany's farewell to black-coal mining is by no means an exit from coal altogether in a country where the fossil fuel still accounts for almost 40 per cent of its energy mix — partly because of Merkel's decision to ditch nuclear power. To the dismay of environmentalists, Germany still has numerous open-pit mines that extract lignite or brown coal, which is softer, cheaper and dirtier than black coal. But it is an industry under growing threat as countries around the world look for ways to phase out fossil fuels to combat climate change. In Germany, a government-appointed commission will in February announce a roadmap for exiting coal as part of efforts to make the country carbon-neutral by 2050.

End of an era as Germany's last black coal mine closes

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/flooding-in-illegal-coal-mine-in-meghalaya-13-feared-dead-183935">Thirteen people remain trapped</a> in an illegal coal mine due to flooding in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district.

The incident was reported to the district authorities Thursday morning and rescue efforts are on, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sylvester Nongtynger said.

A pump was pressed into service around 4 pm that day and is being turned off every three hours to give it a rest, officials said on Friday.

Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) consisting of over 60 personnel and 12 personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have present on the site.

"We are trying to pump the water out from the mine which is about 370 feet deep. The water level is about 70 feet according to the NDRF," Police DIG (eastern range) A R Mawthoh told PTI.

NDRF divers will also make an attempt to reach the trapped miners, the DIG said.

The miners went in by 15 feet by 15 feet vertical shaft which is around 370 feet deep. At the bottom of the mine, at least four to five horizontal holes are dug from which coal chips are taken out, local people said.

"The chances of survival of the miners are very bleak. The mine is way deeper than the nearby river. There are also around 20 shafts," an elder from the village said, adding three of the trapped miners are from the village and the rest are non-tribals.

"Appropriate actions will be taken against people who are involved in illegal mining," Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said.&nbsp;

Thirteen people remain trapped in an illegal coal mine due to flooding in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district. The incident was reported to the district authorities Thursday morning and rescue efforts are on, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sylvester Nongtynger said.

Thirteen people remain trapped in an illegal coal mine due to flooding in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district. The incident was reported to the district authorities Thursday morning and rescue efforts are on, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sylvester Nongtynger said. A pump was pressed into service around 4 pm that day and is being turned off every three hours to give it a rest, officials said on Friday. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) consisting of over 60 personnel and 12 personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have present on the site. "We are trying to pump the water out from the mine which is about 370 feet deep. The water level is about 70 feet according to the NDRF," Police DIG (eastern range) A R Mawthoh told PTI. NDRF divers will also make an attempt to reach the trapped miners, the DIG said. The miners went in by 15 feet by 15 feet vertical shaft which is around 370 feet deep. At the bottom of the mine, at least four to five horizontal holes are dug from which coal chips are taken out, local people said. "The chances of survival of the miners are very bleak. The mine is way deeper than the nearby river. There are also around 20 shafts," an elder from the village said, adding three of the trapped miners are from the village and the rest are non-tribals. "Appropriate actions will be taken against people who are involved in illegal mining," Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said.

13 miners still trapped in flooded Meghalaya mine as efforts to pump out water yet to yield result

At least 13 people were trapped and feared dead due to flooding in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia hills district, police said Thursday.

The incident was reported to the district authorities Thursday morning and rescue efforts are on, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sylvester Nongtynger said.

"According to information received, 13 people were trapped inside an illegal coal mine at Ksan village under the jurisdiction of Saipung police station," the SP said.

The National Green Tribunal has banned unscientific and unsafe rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya since 2014.

According to the SP, the labourers have engaged in the rat-hole coal mine near Lytein river around three days ago, and due to the overflowing of water they are all feared dead.

Water is being pumped out and efforts are on to identify the people behind the illegal mining.

A case has been registered against unknown people for their involvement in illegal mining of coal.

Disaster management Minister Kyrmen Shylla, who is also an MLA from Khliehriat constituency, said, "We are waiting for a report from the district authorities in this regard."

This is not the first time that labourers engaged in illegal mining of coal have been trapped in a mine, a police officer said.

At least 15 miners were trapped in such an illegal rat-hole coal mine near the Nangalbibra area in South Garo Hills in 2012. The bodies were never recovered, officials said.

At least 13 people were trapped and feared dead due to flooding in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia hills district, police said Thursday. The incident was reported to the district authorities Thursday morning and rescue efforts are on, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sylvester Nongtynger said.

At least 13 people were trapped and feared dead due to flooding in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia hills district, police said Thursday. The incident was reported to the district authorities Thursday morning and rescue efforts are on, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sylvester Nongtynger said. "According to information received, 13 people were trapped inside an illegal coal mine at Ksan village under the jurisdiction of Saipung police station," the SP said. The National Green Tribunal has banned unscientific and unsafe rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya since 2014. According to the SP, the labourers have engaged in the rat-hole coal mine near Lytein river around three days ago, and due to the overflowing of water they are all feared dead. Water is being pumped out and efforts are on to identify the people behind the illegal mining. A case has been registered against unknown people for their involvement in illegal mining of coal. Disaster management Minister Kyrmen Shylla, who is also an MLA from Khliehriat constituency, said, "We are waiting for a report from the district authorities in this regard." This is not the first time that labourers engaged in illegal mining of coal have been trapped in a mine, a police officer said. At least 15 miners were trapped in such an illegal rat-hole coal mine near the Nangalbibra area in South Garo Hills in 2012. The bodies were never recovered, officials said.

Flooding in illegal coal mine in Meghalaya, 13 miners trapped, feared dead

A coal mine collapsed on Saturday in Pakistan's Baluchistan province, killing at least six people and injuring as many others.

The collapse apparently took place because of a gas explosion in the Marwar area near Quetta, an official said.

The bodies of the miners killed in the incident have been recovered but there are still miners trapped under the rubble, said Deputy Commissioner Quetta Farrukh Atique said.

"The collapse apparently took place because of a gas explosion and we are trying to rescue the trapped workers," he said.

The official said six miners who were injured in the collapse had been pulled out from the rubble and sent to a hospital for treatment.

The miners killed belonged to the same village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Shangla district, rescue officials said.

According to the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation (PCMLF), about 100 to 200 labourers die on average in coal mine accidents every year.

Last month, at least 11 miners died in mines' collapse in Darra Adam Khel and Jhelum.&nbsp;

The collapse apparently took place because of a gas explosion in the Marwar area near Quetta, an official said.

A coal mine collapsed on Saturday in Pakistan's Baluchistan province, killing at least six people and injuring as many others. The collapse apparently took place because of a gas explosion in the Marwar area near Quetta, an official said. The bodies of the miners killed in the incident have been recovered but there are still miners trapped under the rubble, said Deputy Commissioner Quetta Farrukh Atique said. "The collapse apparently took place because of a gas explosion and we are trying to rescue the trapped workers," he said. The official said six miners who were injured in the collapse had been pulled out from the rubble and sent to a hospital for treatment. The miners killed belonged to the same village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Shangla district, rescue officials said. According to the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation (PCMLF), about 100 to 200 labourers die on average in coal mine accidents every year. Last month, at least 11 miners died in mines' collapse in Darra Adam Khel and Jhelum.

Coal mine collapse kills 6 people in Pakistan

With the recovery of two more bodies on Sunday, the death toll climbed to 18 in the coal mine collapse at Lalmatia open cast coal mine of Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) in India&#39;s Godda district.

R R Mishra, officiating CMD of ECL, a Coal India subsidiary, today said, &quot;Two more bodies were recovered. So in total 18 bodies have been recovered so far.&quot;

The fog was dense in the morning. But since there is less fog now so the rescue operation is still under way, he said.

Mishra said two more machines have been recovered .

&quot;In total, so far 18 machines have been recovered, &quot;he added.

Sniffer dogs have also been pressed into service, he said.

Mishra had on Sunday said, &quot;We are carrying on the rescue operation in a systematic manner so that the situation does not aggravate as the debris is too much and it should not fall.&quot;

Danger zones have been declared around the place of incidents to restrict the entry of people there. Moreover, police and Central Industrial Secutiry Force&nbsp;officials have been stationed to restrict entry of people in the danger zone, he had said.

Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDIL), the consultancy arm of Coal India Ltd, has deployed magneto meters along with imaging system for locating magnetic and conductive material up to a depth of 80 meters, the statement said.

The incident occurred at around 7.30 pm&nbsp;on December 29 when a massive mound of earth came crashing down on excavators at Lalmatia open cast coal mine of Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL), the worst such disaster in over a decade.

Rescue operations were launched immediately after the incident.

Senior officials of Director General of Mines Safety (DGMS) had arrived at the site and launched an inquiry into the incident.

Thirteen excavators and dump trucks which were swamped under the debris were recovered.

(PTI)

The mine caved in last Thursday. Rescue operations continue

With the recovery of two more bodies on Sunday, the death toll climbed to 18 in the coal mine collapse at Lalmatia open cast coal mine of Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) in India's Godda district. R R Mishra, officiating CMD of ECL, a Coal India subsidiary, today said, "Two more bodies were recovered. So in total 18 bodies have been recovered so far." The fog was dense in the morning. But since there is less fog now so the rescue operation is still under way, he said. Mishra said two more machines have been recovered . "In total, so far 18 machines have been recovered, "he added. Sniffer dogs have also been pressed into service, he said. Mishra had on Sunday said, "We are carrying on the rescue operation in a systematic manner so that the situation does not aggravate as the debris is too much and it should not fall." Danger zones have been declared around the place of incidents to restrict the entry of people there. Moreover, police and Central Industrial Secutiry Force officials have been stationed to restrict entry of people in the danger zone, he had said. Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDIL), the consultancy arm of Coal India Ltd, has deployed magneto meters along with imaging system for locating magnetic and conductive material up to a depth of 80 meters, the statement said. The incident occurred at around 7.30 pm on December 29 when a massive mound of earth came crashing down on excavators at Lalmatia open cast coal mine of Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL), the worst such disaster in over a decade. Rescue operations were launched immediately after the incident. Senior officials of Director General of Mines Safety (DGMS) had arrived at the site and launched an inquiry into the incident. Thirteen excavators and dump trucks which were swamped under the debris were recovered. (PTI)

India: Death toll from Jharkhand mine collapse climbs to 18

Less than a year after the coal industry was declared to be in terminal decline, the fossil fuel has staged its steepest price rally in over half a decade, making it one of the hottest major commodities. 
 
Cargo prices for Australian thermal coal from its Newcastle terminal, seen as the Asian benchmark, have soared over 35 per cent since mid-June to more than one-year highs of almost $70 a tonne, pushed by surprise increases in Chinese imports. 
 
&quot;Coal markets, after five years of declining prices, appear to have found a bottom in the first quarter,&quot; Australia&#39;s Whitehaven Coal said on today, as its shares hit a three-year high on the release of its annual results. 
 
&quot;Reasons for the increase in prices include mine closures in Indonesia, United States and Australia and policy change by Chinese authorities,&quot; Whitehaven said, adding it was confident that coal prices will rise. 
 
Goldman Sachs, reversing a gloomy outlook it issued last September, said this week restrictions on domestic production by Chinese regulators had turned coal &quot;into one of the best performing commodities so far this year.&quot; 
 
Global mining majors like Glencore and Anglo American, but also regional Asian players like Whitehaven and Thailand&#39;s Banpu, are reaping the benefits. 
 
All four have seen their shares rise sharply, particularly since China in April cut mine operating days by 16 per cent in a bid to help meet its target of reducing capacity by 250 million tonnes this year. 
 
Banpu, which operates several export mines across Asia-Pacific, said this week that it expects to sell its 2016 coal supplies at an average price of over $50 a tonne, up from a previous target of $47 to $48 per tonne. 
 
The price recovery is an unexpected boon for miners, who were hit hard by a years-long downturn, and stands in sharp contrast to previous calls by Goldman and the International Energy Agency (IEA), who said last year that coal was in terminal decline. 
 
As a result of China&#39;s surprise move, Goldman said there was now &quot;support (for) global prices for the foreseeable future.&quot; 
 
The bank raised its three, six and 12 month price forecasts to $65/$62/$60 per tonne for Newcastle coal, up as much as 38 per cent from its previous outlook. 
 
Winners and losers 
 
Coal has also been garnering support from Asian industrial powerhouses Japan and South Korea, while demand remains firm in India, Vietnam and the Philippines. 
 
Japan and South Korea have both said they want to expand future coal imports while reducing more expensive imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). 
 
China&#39;s power consumption has also risen against expectations, jumping 8.2 per cent from a year ago in July to reach 552.3 billion kilowatt hours. 
 
While almost all thermal coal miners were hit by the previous price decline, and most shut or sold assets, those left with the best assets now stand to benefit from the rebound. 
 
The biggest winners are those with mines in Australia, thanks to the high average quality of its coal. 
 
Whitehaven said it was confident its high quality coals will continue to attract a premium price. 
 
Shares of Anglo American, a major thermal coal miner in Australia, have also recovered from record lows earlier this year of around 2.2 pounds to around 8.7 pounds. 
 
Glencore, the world&#39;s biggest thermal coal exporter with huge Australian operations, has also seen its shares soar from around 70 pence early this year to nearly 2 pounds. 
 
Glencore was not available for comment ahead of reporting its half-year results on Aug. 24.&nbsp;Other miners have not been able to benefit from coal&#39;s 2016 boom. 
 
Indonesia, the world&#39;s biggest exporter of thermal coal, has seen its output fall during the lull, and its miners are unable to raise production due to debt constraints. 
 
(Reuters)

Cargo prices for Australian thermal coal from its Newcastle terminal have soared over 35 per cent since mid-June

Less than a year after the coal industry was declared to be in terminal decline, the fossil fuel has staged its steepest price rally in over half a decade, making it one of the hottest major commodities. Cargo prices for Australian thermal coal from its Newcastle terminal, seen as the Asian benchmark, have soared over 35 per cent since mid-June to more than one-year highs of almost $70 a tonne, pushed by surprise increases in Chinese imports. "Coal markets, after five years of declining prices, appear to have found a bottom in the first quarter," Australia's Whitehaven Coal said on today, as its shares hit a three-year high on the release of its annual results. "Reasons for the increase in prices include mine closures in Indonesia, United States and Australia and policy change by Chinese authorities," Whitehaven said, adding it was confident that coal prices will rise. Goldman Sachs, reversing a gloomy outlook it issued last September, said this week restrictions on domestic production by Chinese regulators had turned coal "into one of the best performing commodities so far this year." Global mining majors like Glencore and Anglo American, but also regional Asian players like Whitehaven and Thailand's Banpu, are reaping the benefits. All four have seen their shares rise sharply, particularly since China in April cut mine operating days by 16 per cent in a bid to help meet its target of reducing capacity by 250 million tonnes this year. Banpu, which operates several export mines across Asia-Pacific, said this week that it expects to sell its 2016 coal supplies at an average price of over $50 a tonne, up from a previous target of $47 to $48 per tonne. The price recovery is an unexpected boon for miners, who were hit hard by a years-long downturn, and stands in sharp contrast to previous calls by Goldman and the International Energy Agency (IEA), who said last year that coal was in terminal decline. As a result of China's surprise move, Goldman said there was now "support (for) global prices for the foreseeable future." The bank raised its three, six and 12 month price forecasts to $65/$62/$60 per tonne for Newcastle coal, up as much as 38 per cent from its previous outlook. Winners and losers Coal has also been garnering support from Asian industrial powerhouses Japan and South Korea, while demand remains firm in India, Vietnam and the Philippines. Japan and South Korea have both said they want to expand future coal imports while reducing more expensive imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). China's power consumption has also risen against expectations, jumping 8.2 per cent from a year ago in July to reach 552.3 billion kilowatt hours. While almost all thermal coal miners were hit by the previous price decline, and most shut or sold assets, those left with the best assets now stand to benefit from the rebound. The biggest winners are those with mines in Australia, thanks to the high average quality of its coal. Whitehaven said it was confident its high quality coals will continue to attract a premium price. Shares of Anglo American, a major thermal coal miner in Australia, have also recovered from record lows earlier this year of around 2.2 pounds to around 8.7 pounds. Glencore, the world's biggest thermal coal exporter with huge Australian operations, has also seen its shares soar from around 70 pence early this year to nearly 2 pounds. Glencore was not available for comment ahead of reporting its half-year results on Aug. 24. Other miners have not been able to benefit from coal's 2016 boom. Indonesia, the world's biggest exporter of thermal coal, has seen its output fall during the lull, and its miners are unable to raise production due to debt constraints. (Reuters)

After years of pain, coal becomes one of the hottest commodities of the year

Twelve miners were trapped after water flooded a coal mine in north China&#39;s Shanxi Province. 
 
The mine in Jincheng City got flooded at around 10.53 PM (local time) yesterday. 
 
Rescue efforts are underway, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today. 
 
(PTI)

The miners were trapped in the coal mine in north China's Shanxi Province. Rescue efforts are underway

Twelve miners were trapped after water flooded a coal mine in north China's Shanxi Province. The mine in Jincheng City got flooded at around 10.53 PM (local time) yesterday. Rescue efforts are underway, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today. (PTI)

12 workers trapped in flooded coal mine in China

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