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BEIJING, Feb 15 - Many Chinese coal mines ordered shut by the government for safety reasons are still operating -- some seven years after being told to close -- and accidents are still happening there, a major state newspaper said on Thursday.

The government has taken aim at small coal mines in the last few years as many have few or no safety measures in place, to try to cut the death toll in the world's deadliest mining industry.

Last year, more than 7,000 workers were killed in mine blasts, floods and collapses.

Some owners have been getting round government orders by just "merging" their small mines with other collieries, the People's Daily newspaper said.

Last year, the major coal producing province of Shaanxi was meant to have shut 80 mines, but only closed 44, said the newspaper, themouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party.

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