Chinese ministry sends work team to NE China after mine tailings leak

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment has sent a work team to the city of Yichun in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province after a leakage of mine tailings.

The leakage happened at 1:40 pm Saturday at the tailings pond of the Yichun Luming Mining Co Ltd, and part of the leakage entered into a local river.

The MEE has initiated an emergency response after the accident. The work team, led by vice minister Zhai Qing, is rushing to the site of the accident.

Relevant provincial departments have sent experts to the site and set up an emergency command.