VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked all local governments to inspect mining activities throughout the country.

The decision was made after the accident at Len Co quarry in the central province of Nghe that killed 18 workers and injured six.

The PM told local governments to shut down mines that violate labor safety rules.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will combine with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalid and Social Affairs, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and provincial People’s Committees to conduct the inspection of all mines that explore minerals for construction material production.

In the south, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and An Giang provinces have many quarries. Some quarries have left deep holes, which are very dangerous.

In related news, Nghe An police have issued a 4-month detention and are seeking indictment against the director of the mining company for responsibilities in the death of 18 workers in a recent rockslide in Len Co Mountain on April 1.

Phan Van Chin, 47, director of Chin Men Limited Company, is facing charges of “violating labor safety, causing serious consequences”.

The collapse killed 18 workers, including 11 women, and seriously injured 6 others after they were buried under about 1,000 cubic meters of rock.

Chin Men Co., Ltd. began its rock mining activities at Len Co Mountain in Nam Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, in 2007. At the time of the quarry collapse, the company had 5 rock mining areas operational at the foot of the mountain.

According to investigators, the quarry collapse might have been caused by technical faults of the company’s mining team that weakened the structure of the mine.

Quoc Huy