123: Chapter 123 Major Accident

Shawan Town.

There was a large coal mine in this town. It used to be the largest coal mine in the county, with Jiucailing Coal Mine in second place. Later, as Jiucailing Coal Mine developed, this mine was left far behind.

Even so, in Shawan Town, and even throughout the entire Sanjiang County, Jiangjiachong Coal Mine was still quite famous. It had hundreds of workers, with over a hundred going down into the mine every day, and sometimes two or three hundred.

Today, 127 people went down into the mine to work.

Since County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng took office, he had only visited Jiucailing Coal Mine once, but today was his fifth inspection at Jiangjiachong Coal Mine.

He had always had a plan to develop and expand Jiangjiachong Coal Mine, increasing its scale several times over. Even if it couldn't compare to Jiucailing Coal Mine, he wanted to significantly narrow the gap.

After the inspection, wearing a hard hat, he prepared to go down into the mine to take a look. At this moment, the mine's safety officer came over, looking a bit anxious, and whispered a few words into the ear of Mine Director Jiang Liangcai.

Mine Director Jiang Liangcai asked in a deep voice, "Really, is that true!"

"Yes, it is indeed so," the safety officer replied firmly. "I went down and saw it myself; it has been confirmed without a doubt."

County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng heard their conversation and asked, "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

Mine Director Jiang Liangcai replied, "It's nothing major. The humidity at one of the working faces is slightly over the limit. This happens often, it's not a big problem."

Seeing that it wasn't a big problem, County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng didn't ask any further.

After putting on his hard hat and brand-new rubber boots, accompanied by a group of people, he walked into the mine tunnel.

Of course, it was impossible to go deep inside; he was just walking in a few hundred meters to take a casual look. Reaching the deep working faces was impossible.

The group stopped after entering the mine about two or three hundred meters. They didn't continue further and prepared to return, because County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng felt that the environment inside the mine was truly not very good.

After walking back about a hundred meters, a loud commotion came from inside the mine. Then, many workers came rushing out urgently, either riding in mine cars or simply running on foot.

The safety officer shouted anxiously, "County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng, Mine Director Jiang Liangcai, there is water seepage at one of the lower working faces. We are worried that a water inrush accident might occur. I have already ordered work to stop, and all miners are to evacuate to the surface immediately."

Upon hearing this, Mine Director Jiang Liangcai was a bit dissatisfied, "This is pure nonsense! Work for over a hundred people has stopped; who is going to bear the loss for today!"

As a mine director, his first thought was not safety, but economic loss; he was truly a bizarre character.

County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng actually didn't think there was anything wrong with this and didn't correct him.

The safety officer was quite anxious, "Mine Director, there are no small matters when it comes to safety. If a water inrush accident happens, the consequences are something no one can bear. We should get out of here quickly."

Perhaps feeling that their own lives were the most important, everyone, including County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng, hastened their steps.

A large number of workers came out of the mine one after another.

The last few workers to come out had terrified looks on their faces and were pale.

"It's bad! A serious water inrush accident has occurred down below. We have at least twenty or so people who haven't come out yet."

What!

Mine Director Jiang Liangcai finally realized the severity of the situation, and his expression changed.

County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng was the same; his heart sank. Twenty or so people trapped underground—this was a major matter. Even as a County Magistrate, this was something he couldn't bear.

Suddenly, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Quick, quick, send people down into the mine to save them!"

The safety officer said, almost crying, "County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng, the mine is full of water. The entire mine has been flooded. We can't get in; it's impossible to save anyone."

"I don't believe it! It just happened; there should still be time. Go down and check the situation quickly. What if they can still be saved!"

Mine Director Jiang Liangcai also shouted, "County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng is right! You haven't even gone down to check; how do you know it's impossible to save them? Hurry, get down into the mine immediately!"

Perhaps considering that those trapped were their fellow workers, the safety officer took a few people, put on simple rescue equipment, and walked into the mine tunnel, stumbling along.

County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng watched them go in and prayed, "Heaven protect us, please don't let anything happen. These twenty-some miners must be saved."

Not long after, at most twenty minutes or so, the safety officer came out with everyone, looking miserable.

"County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng, Mine Director Jiang Liangcai, the mine tunnel is full of water now, and the water level is still rising at a speed visible to the naked eye. It's impossible to rescue anyone!"

What!

The mine is full of water that quickly!

It's over. These people must have all drowned.

County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng's face turned even paler. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

He thought unwillingly, "Why am I so unlucky? I've only been County Magistrate for such a short time, my seat isn't even warm yet, and I actually run into something like this."

When a safety accident occurs, the County Magistrate is the primary person responsible, followed by the Deputy County Magistrate in charge of safety.

Twenty or more miners dying counts as a major accident.

As County Magistrate, he would be directly removed from his post.

Knowing this, County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng broke out in cold sweat, and Mine Director Jiang Liangcai was much the same.

In his panic, to protect himself, Mine Director Jiang Liangcai came up with a terrible idea, "County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng, it seems there is no hope at all for these twenty-some miners. The only plan now is to cover this up tightly and block the news."

After hesitating for a long time, County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng gritted his teeth and said, "It seems that's the only way. Do not report the matter yet. You must quickly mobilize high-power water pumps and start pumping water immediately. The bodies of the twenty-some miners must be recovered. Also, prepare funds; compensation matters must be started immediately, and we must pacify the emotions of the victims' families..."

He finally calmed down a bit and gave a series of instructions.

Very soon, the first high-power water pump was brought over, connected to water pipes, and began pumping.

County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng also started making phone calls to mobilize all the high-power water pumps in the county. The urgent priority was to pump water; they had to drain the mine first.

The water inrush event happened at a few minutes past 10:00 AM. By the time County Magistrate Zhang Yuansong knew about this matter, it was already more than three hours later.

It was past 1:00 PM. County Magistrate Zhang Yuansong had just started work and was in his office chatting with Qin Chuan about some work matters when the Director of the County Committee Office, Zhang Chaoyang, walked in and reported.

"Secretary Zhang, there is a strange situation. County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng is constantly mobilizing high-power water pumps. Several pumps have already been transported to Jiangjiachong Coal Mine."

"Oh? There is such a thing?" County Magistrate Zhang Yuansong was completely confused. What kind of move was County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng making?

County Magistrate Zhang Yuansong knew that County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng went to Jiangjiachong Coal Mine for research this morning, but what on earth did that have to do with high-power water pumps?

Qin Chuan's mind turned quickly, and he immediately thought of a possibility. He said tentatively, "Secretary Zhang, is it possible that a water inrush accident occurred at Jiangjiachong Coal Mine, and they need to use these high-power water pumps to drain the water?"

That remark woke the dreamer.

County Magistrate Zhang Yuansong was slightly shocked, then felt that this was entirely possible. He nodded with a grave expression.

Zhang Chaoyang couldn't believe that a water inrush accident would happen at Jiangjiachong Coal Mine and analyzed, "That shouldn't be the case, right? If it were really a water inrush accident, County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng would definitely report it to Secretary Zhang."

Qin Chuan said, "Whether a water inrush accident really happened or not, County Magistrate Zhang, just make a phone call and ask, and you'll know."