All the 31 small collieries have been closed in Wuhai City of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region after a coal mine gas explosion killed 16 miners on November 11.

The city government said on Thursday that before the shutdown, the small mines, including the one where the blast occurred, had been ordered to suspend operation due to poor safety facilities.

By Wednesday, all the production equipment, water and electricity supply lines and telecom facilities in the small mines had been dismantled.

The gas explosion on November 11 at a mine run by the Bayinsai Coal Tar Co Ltd left 16 miners dead and three others injured. The mine was later found operating without required safety license.

Gas spills, bad ventilation and a damaged gas monitoring system were the direct causes of the tragedy, the local coal mine safety supervision bureau said.

To help the workers of the closed mine reemployed, the city government has provided free professional training and job-related information for the workers.

The government also promised to provide financial support for the workers who would like to start their own business.

(Xinhua News Agency December 2, 2005)