Death Toll Rises in China Mine Collapse As Rescue Efforts Continue
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The death toll from the collapse of an open pit coal mine in northern China has risen to four, with 49 still missing, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
Work was suspended for several hours after a second landslide at the Inner Mongolia region’s Alxa League facility following the initial cave-in of one of the pit’s walls that buried people and mining trucks below on Wednesday. Chinese President Xi Jinping has demanded “all-out efforts in search and rescue” and for “ensuring the safety of people’s lives and property and maintaining overall social stability.”
About 900 rescuers with heavy equipment were on the scene, and work resumed by Thursday morning, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
More than 470 rescue workers have been working at the scene, alongside 40 medical workers, team leader Wei Zhiguo told CCTV from the scene. An additional 200-member team has also been mobilized, he said.
Firefighters, rescue dogs and trucks have been mobilized from across the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.
“We must make every possible effort to rescue the missing persons and treat the injured,” said Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday, as quoted by Reuters.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for an immediate investigation into the cause of the accident, according to the news agency.
The collapsed coal mine is owned by Xinjing Coal Mining Company and is located in the town of Alxa League.
