A serious accident happened at a coal mine in China

A coal mine accident in China killed many workers. This was the worst mining disaster in fifteen years. The accident shows us that coal mining is still very dangerous.

Coal is a fuel. People burn coal to make electricity. China uses a lot of coal. But coal is not clean. It makes pollution. Recently, China decided to use more clean energy. Clean energy comes from the sun, wind, and water. China wants to change from coal to clean energy.

But this accident happened at a coal mine. Many workers died underground. The mine had problems. The mine was not safe for workers. Some workers did not have permission to work there. They were not registered. The mine did not follow safety rules.

Why did this happen? The mine was old. Old mines can have problems. The mine owner wanted to make money fast. He did not spend money on safety. He hired workers without proper papers. He did not tell the government about all the workers.

This accident is very sad. It shows us something important. Even when a country wants to change, old problems do not disappear quickly. China wants clean energy. But coal mines still exist. People still work in coal mines. These workers need protection. They need safety rules. They need proper training.

China must do better. The government must check all mines. Workers must have permission to work. Mines must follow safety rules. If coal mines continue, they must be safe places to work. This accident should teach us: energy is important, but worker safety is more important.

Inspired by reporting from BBC News.