China: A fire in the Rujigou coal field has been extinguished after burning for more than 180 years. The fire burned 1 million tons of coal and released 90,000 tons of hazardous material into the atmosphere each year at a cost of $40 million.
During the last ten years in excess of $53 million has been spent on trying to put out the blaze which is destroying high grade anthracite coal. It is rumoured that the fire was deliberately set by mistreated miners.
"It's impossible to prove the legend. But there was a good chance that the fire started from the ground in the first place as miners used to camp on the mining field, lighting fires to cook or warm themselves," said Zhang Wenjiang.
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During the last ten years in excess of $53 million has been spent on trying to put out the blaze which is destroying high grade anthracite coal. It is rumoured that the fire was deliberately set by mistreated miners.
"It's impossible to prove the legend. But there was a good chance that the fire started from the ground in the first place as miners used to camp on the mining field, lighting fires to cook or warm themselves," said Zhang Wenjiang.
Full Story:
http://www.newsdaily.com/TopNews/UPI-1-200...na-coalfire.xml
/http://www.newsdaily.com/TopNews/UP...a-coalfire.xml