Accidents claim 20,000 lives; China

Updated April 18, 2008 22:07:11

China says workplace and traffic accidents claimed nearly 20,000 lives in the country over the first three months of this year.

The State Administration of Work Safety says the number of deaths was down about 14 per cent from the same period last year.

It says deaths in China's dangerous coal mining industry dropped by 24 per cent in the first quarter.