At least two dead and more than 50 people stranded after mine collapse in China

At least two people have died and more than 50 are missing after a landslide in a coal mine in the open in the region of Inner Mongolia, in the north of Chinastate media reported on Wednesday.

“The accident happened on Wednesday afternoon and a preliminary investigation showed that more than 50 people were trapped under the mine,” Xinhua said, adding that three people had been rescued, two of whom were not showing vital signs. .

The victims were buried under the rubble of the mine Alxa Leaguesaid the official news agency Xinhua. Rescuers extracted three people from the wreckage, two of whom had no sign of life.

Other state media brought the total number of missing to 57 and said several vehicles were also buried.

Inner Mongolia is a key mining region for coal and other minerals in China. According to critics, this activity has devastated the traditional landscape of mountains, grassy steppe and desert.

Rescuers were dispatched to the scene, according to Xinhua.

The state broadcaster CCTV reported that there had been a “wide” collapse of a well operated by the Xinjing Coal Mining Company.

“Several workers and vehicles were buried,” reported CCTV.

Accidents still happen frequently in an industry where safety protocols are often lax, especially at the most rudimentary sites.

Some 40 people were working underground when a gold mine in the northwest region of Xinjiang collapsed in December.

In 2021, 20 miners were rescued from a flooded coal mine in the northern province of Shanxiwhile two others died.

China relies heavily on coal for power generationbut worked to reduce the number of mine fatalities by placing greater emphasis on safety and closing small operations that lacked the necessary equipment.

Most deaths in mines are attributed to explosions caused by methane buildup and coal dustor drownings caused by miners breaking into abandoned shafts due to flooding.

China has recorded a large number of fatal industrial and construction accidents in recent months due to the poor safety training and regulation, official corruption and a tendency for for-profit companies to cut corners. The economy has slowed, in part due to the draconian shutdowns and quarantines imposed under the now abandoned policy of “zero-COVID”.

(With information from AFP and AP)

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