China admits coal safety is lagging

BEIJING, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Beijing has admitted its coal mining industry, the most unsafe in the world, is funded by local officials.

Chinese often have shares in the mines, which have risen in value as coal fuels the booming economy, the BBC reported Friday.

Poor safety standards and many illegal operations have led to the deaths of nearly 3,000 miners in the first half of this year alone.

Although national leaders ordered local officials to give up their stake in the unsafe mines, many have not, Beijing officials have admitted.