open-pit coal mine

China Coal Mine Collapse Leaves 2 Dead, 53 Missing

The collapse occurred on February 22 around 7 p.m. local time.

Update: Feb. 28, 11:47 a.m. ET—Six people are reported to have died from the collapse, and 47 are still missing, Reuters reported. 

Update: Feb. 23, 11:09 a.m. ET—The death toll from the collapse has risen to five, and the number of missing now stands at 48 people, according to Reuters.

A coal mine collapse in China has left at least two people dead and 53 people missing.

At around 7:13 p.m. local time (4:13 a.m. EST) yesterday in Alxa League, located in China's Inner Mongolia region, an open-pit coal mine collapsed, as reported by BBC and Reuters.

As of February 22, the collapse of the mine, run by Xinjing Coal Mining Company, caused two people to die and six to be injured, Xinhua, China’s state news agency, reported. Though the six injured were rescued, 53 were still missing.

According to Xinhua, on February 22, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts in search and rescue of the missing and treatment of the injured.”

This is a developing story.

About the Author

Alex Saurman is a former Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety,who has since joined OH&S’s client services team. She continues to work closely with OH&S’s editorial team and contributes to the magazine.

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