Thursday, February 23, 2023 13:12 (GMT+7)
(CPV) – Chinese media reported that at least 2 people were killed, 6 were injured and 51 others are still missing in a coal mine collapse in the northern part of the country's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.
The incident occurred at around 1:00 p.m. on February 22, at an open-pit mine managed by Xinjing Coal Company.
Previously, local authorities said the number of trapped workers was 53. This number changed to 51 at 0:30 on February 23 after further verification.
After the incident, 11 rescue teams with 470 people were deployed to the scene. Their operations were supported by more than 130 large machines.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered search and rescue efforts at the scene, while Premier Li Keqiang demanded a prompt investigation into the cause of the accident.
Inner Mongolia is one of China's top coal-producing regions. Like other parts of China, the region has been producing at a rapid pace over the past year to boost supplies and stabilize prices to ensure energy security.
China has seen several mining accidents in recent years. In December 2022, an underground gold mine in Xinjiang, in the northwest of the country, collapsed while about 40 workers were working. Only 22 of them survived after rescue operations. In 2021, 20 miners were rescued after a coal mine in Shanxi province flooded, while two others died.
According to official data, of the 367 mining accidents and 518 deaths reported in China last year, 168 accidents and 245 deaths were related to coal mines./.
KG (according to China Daily, SCMP)
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