(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-03 19:18

SHENYANG  -- Three villagers were killed and two were injured when the roof of a slag pit collapsed in China's northeastern Liaoning Province, a local source said on Monday.

Three farmers were buried and two were slightly injured when the mine's support frame broke at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. At the time, 13 farmers led by Wang Enjun were illegally digging for iron at the Waitoushan mine in Benxi city, said a Benxi municipal government official on Monday.

The slag pit belongs to the giant steelmaker Benxi Steel Group.