By Liu Jianing
China has reported no extremely serious accidents for 25 consecutive months, setting a record in the country's history, the Ministry of Emergency Management announced on Monday.
On Nov. 8, 2021, the State Council Information Office (SCIO) holds a press conference in Beijing on accelerating the modernization of emergency management system and capacity. [Photo by Zhao Yifan/China SCIO]
Extremely serious accidents refer to accidents with a death toll of more than 30. Zhou Xuewen, vice minister of emergency management, said at a news conference that the country has seen enhanced production safety since 2018 when the ministry was established.
From 2018 to 2020, the number of production safety accidents and deaths dropped by 26.9% and 27.6%, respectively, compared to the three-year period before 2018. Specifically, the number and death toll of major accidents declined by 41.9% and 39.7%, respectively, and those of extremely serious accidents plummeted by 66.7% and 77.1%, respectively.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has been carrying out a three-year campaign to tackle 32 critical production safety problems in eight categories, including dangerous chemicals and coal mines, according to Vice Minister Song Yuanming.
Meanwhile, China has seen notable progress in disaster prevention, alleviation, and relief work, according to Zhou. The number of people deceased and missing dropped by 41.5%, the number of collapsed houses declined by 65%, and direct economic losses from disasters decreased by 10.6% compared to the three-year period before 2018.
