Yunnan: An illegally operating underground mine in Yunnan province, southwestern China, collapsed, resulting in the deaths of five workers. Rescuers managed to extract all six workers trapped underground and rushed them to the hospital. Unfortunately, five succumbed to their injuries, while the sole survivor remains in stable condition.
According to Thai News Agency, the collapse occurred in Huize County in the early hours of the morning. The mine tunnel gave way during illegal mining operations, though the specific type of mine remains unspecified. In response, local authorities in Yunnan have formed a committee to investigate the cause and to hold those responsible accountable.
This tragic incident comes just over a week after a devastating underground gas explosion in a coal mine in Shanxi province on May 22, which claimed at least 82 lives, left two missing, and injured 128 others. This was the deadliest mine explosion in China since 2009. Investigations revealed serious regulatory violations by the operators, such as unmarked tunnels, missing worker tracking systems, and the construction of fake gates to evade inspection.
The mine collapse also follows a national security meeting chaired by Premier Li Qiang. During the meeting, he instructed relevant agencies to combat corruption and falsification of safety documents, and to intensify inspections in high-risk production areas, including the mining sector, to prevent future tragedies.