Hong Kong media outlet Hong Kong 01 reported on the 2nd that this year in China, a series of large-scale accidents occurred, and regarding the fact that many middle-aged and elderly people were victims, it stated that "risks related to social structure exist."

On May 3rd, a van carrying 21 wild vegetable pickers overturned in Donggang City, Dandong, Liaoning Province, killing 8 people and injuring 13. On the 4th, an explosion occurred at a firework factory in Liuyang City, Hunan Province, killing 37 people. On the 16th, a pickup truck carrying rural day laborers fell into a river in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, killing 10 people. On the 22nd, a gas explosion occurred at a coal mine in Qinyuan County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province, killing 82 people.

The article pointed out that in all four of these accidents, a large number of middle-aged and elderly workers were victims, and that the severe living environment faced by middle-aged and elderly people in China was the background to this. Regarding the accident in Liaoning Province, it explained that the middle-aged and elderly women from rural areas who became victims were engaged in day labor, traveling between multiple towns to support their households due to declining agricultural income, and many had almost no guarantees such as labor contracts or insurance. It also mentioned that many of the victims had an only son and were forced to continue working even in their old age to support their son's marriage, house purchase, and child-rearing expenses.

Similar circumstances were observed among the middle-aged and elderly workers who were victims of the coal mine accident in Shanxi Province, with the article stating, "Safety management in this coal mine was extremely inadequate, and necessary inspection processes were sometimes omitted to cut costs. Nevertheless, many workers continued to work at this site because they needed to support their households." It also introduced cases where some individuals had once left the mine due to its dangers but began working there again to cover their son's marriage or house purchase expenses.

The article explained, "Many of the victims of these accidents were born between 1960 and 1970. While this generation benefited from economic growth after the reform and opening-up, it is also a 'sandwich generation' located in a transitional period of Chinese society." It further stated, "They are expected to care for and support their parents in the older generation, and to assist the younger generation with urban housing acquisition, marriage, and child-rearing. This generation, with its traditional sense of filial piety and strong family responsibility, often prioritizes family over their own old age, working without fully considering the dangers or working conditions."

It then pointed out, "China is already the world's second-largest economy and the world's largest industrial nation. While many middle-aged and elderly people are enjoying the benefits of the era and leading prosperous lives, there are also numerous middle-aged and elderly people struggling in remote areas and regions with delayed economic development. There is still the reality that 'the monthly income of 600 million people is only about 1,000 yuan (approximately 23,000 yen),' and over 100 million farmers and migrant workers receive only a very small pension each month. The problem in Chinese society lies between the escalating demand for a prosperous life among its people and unbalanced and insufficient development."

Furthermore, it concluded, "This year, as large-scale accidents have occurred one after another, many middle-aged and elderly people working at the bottom of society have become victims. This is not merely an issue of safety management but is also deeply connected to social structural problems such as housing, marriage, pensions, and regional disparities. To prevent recurrence, society as a whole must address not only measures against the accidents themselves but also the fundamental challenge of how to improve the situation where people are forced to work in dangerous environments." (Translated and edited by Kitada)