Special equipment accidents kill 8 in June, China

Accidents caused by special equipment, such as elevators and boilers, killed eight people and injured another four last month, according to official data issued on Monday. The death toll remained unchanged from the same period last year, Chen Xitong, spokesman for the General Office of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), said at a news conference. Eight accidents were reported in June, down 33.33 percent from June 2012, Chen said. He attributed the causes of the accidents to a lack of safety awareness, unspecified management responsibilities and illegal operation. Chen said AQSIQ has asked local authorities to strengthen checks over special equipment, including elevators and cable cars, to ensure public safety.