Mine rescue laudable but lessons to be learned

FOUR MINERS were rescued on Friday after being trapped more than 200 meters underground for 36 days, after a tunnel collapsed in a gypsum mine in Pingyi county, East China's Shandong province. The collapse trapped 29 miners working underground on Dec 25. Eleven escaped or were rescued, one is confirmed dead and 13 others are still missing. The rescue is worth praising, but what caused the disaster needs investigating, says Beijing News.

The four rescued miners deserve respect for their arduous struggle to stay alive. So too do the rescuers, who must continue their efforts as 13 people remain missing.

Although long and costly, the Pingyi rescue should be remembered for its never-give-up spirit, it is also important to heed the lessons of the disaster to prevent similar accidents from happening again. This is the best way to show respect to those that lost their lives. That is why the State Administration of Work Safety has urged relevant departments to find out what caused the tragedy, and has pledged to hold accountable all responsible.