Equipment accidents double from last year

China saw 14 accidents involving special equipment in February and such accidents were the cause of 10 deaths, the country's quality watchdog said on Monday.

The number of accidents involving elevators, boilers and cranes in February is two times the same period last year and the number of deaths that resulted from such accidents increased by one person, Chen Xitong, spokesman for the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, said at a news conference.

Another nine people were injured in the accidents in February, down by four, or 30.77 percent, from the same period last year.

Lack of safety awareness, incorrect operation and failure in fulfilling responsibilities accounted for most of the accidents, Chen said.

Chen said the quality administration will urge local authorities to speed up the investigation of the accidents and announce the results in a timely manner.