2 dead, 9 trapped after mine roof collapses

A roof collapse at a mine on Monday has left two dead, with nine still trapped, in Nandan county, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, according to the local authority.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has sent a team to guide rescue efforts, and the provincial government has mobilized the fire department, healthcare workers, armed police and two professional rescue teams.

Qingda Xiyuan Mine Investment Co Ltd, which controls the mine, was found to have covered up the accident and tried to rescue the miners itself after the accident took place at 6:30 pm on Monday.

It was only after the families of the victims reported the collapse to the local police at 3:20 am on Tuesday that the local government was informed.

However, the company did not divulge the exact time of the accident until police uncovered it during their investigation on Tuesday afternoon.

Even worse, the company also intended to hide the operating records of the underground miners on Monday.

"This rescue is full of challenges and difficulties as the collapse site is about 3.7 kilometers deep in the ground and the temperatures can reach up to 42 C," said Luo Songjun, captain of Hechi Squadron of Guangxi Mine Rescue Brigade.

"What's worse, the narrow tunnel may be filled with poison gas."

The local government has set up a team to console the family of those who are trapped.

To avoid more accidents, the local emergency bureau issued an announcement on Tuesday night suspending all the mineral enterprises in the county for rectification.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.