Death of illegal miners highlights risk in illicit industry

Four illegal coal miners were buried alive on Monday after rocks fell on them in an open cast mine in Kara-Tyt district, 110 km northeast of the provincial capital, Jalal-Abad. Talant Atabek, deputy chief of the Civil Defence Department of Jalal-Abad province, told IRIN that the bodies of three of the victims had been found. The incident highlights the risks involved in the growing trade in illegal coal in the region. Experts at the scene said the accident had been caused by the violation of basic safety regulations. Local residents said the victims worked without any protection. Illegal coal mining is widespread in southern Kyrgyzstan. Many inhabitants of former mining towns and villages have no choice but to enter abandoned mines and extract what coal they can, then try to sell it. "We have nowhere to go: mines are closed, everything has been sold off or broken," said former miner Moidun Khatamov. "The risk, certainly, is big," sighed 40-year-old Sadyrbek from Tash-Kumyr, who works not far from the site of the accident. "What else can we do? Everyone has to live, feed their families." His team of five miners digs about 1 mt of illicit coal each day. They sell it in sacks for about for 70-80 soms (about US $1.5 to $2). Some of the profits are used to bribe police and inspectors to stay away from their mine, that was officially closed six years ago. But the work is seasonal. There is demand only in autumn and winter. "Each year brings accidents and victims. Twenty miners have perished in the region in the last three years," Makhmudjan Atadjanov, a mines safety expert, told IRIN. The private coal miners generally use home-made timbering for roof supports - leading to frequent rock falls. Other mine deaths have been attributed to a lack of ventilation in the tunnels. The miners say they do not have money to purchase elementary safety equipment. The coal they extract is just enough to make ends meet. Local people are calling for investment in the mining sector and government investment in their dying communities.