At least four dead, six injured after coal mine collapses in Inner Mongolia

Rescue workers found 10 people, including four who died, in the rubble of a collapsed coal mine in Alshaa League, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, according to local authorities. Fourty-nine people were still trapped at the site.

The six survivors have been hospitalized. Their vital signs have been reported as stable.

The accident happened at around 1 pm on Wednesday. Local authorities said rescue workers were quickly organized to search for survivors upon news of the collapse.

By Thursday morning, 300 fire and rescue workers, 60 fire engines and six rescue dogs had arrived at the scene, according to Inner Mongolia Fire and Rescue.

The four bodies and six injured were recovered by 12:40 am.

They said the site used to be an underground coal mine and was converted into an open-pit mine in 2012. Its production resumed in April 2021 after a three-year suspension.