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A serious coal mine collapse has prompted Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang to direct efforts to rescue trapped people by all means.
Inside a coal mine in China
According to China Central Television (CCTV), the coal mine collapse occurred in Alxa League town in Inner Mongolia on the afternoon of February 22."Currently, the incident has left two dead, six injured and 53 missing," CCTV said in a social media post on the evening of February 22.
In an earlier report, CCTV said many vehicles and workers were buried in the incident.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed authorities to "do everything possible to search for and rescue the missing people", according to CCTV.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for a prompt investigation into the cause of the accident and search and rescue efforts.
Eight rescue teams with more than 330 personnel have been dispatched to the site, along with more than 100 pieces of rescue equipment, China's The Paper reported.
Inner Mongolia is one of China's largest coal-producing regions. Like other regions in China, Inner Mongolia has increased coal mining at the request of the Chinese government to increase domestic supply and stabilize prices, according to Reuters.
Work safety in China's mines has improved in recent years following increased inspections and supervision. However, accidents still occur occasionally, especially in remote areas.
For example, in December 2022, a gold mine collapsed in a northern Xinjiang region, trapping 40 people working underground.
In 2021, 20 miners were rescued from a flooded coal mine in northern Shanxi province, an incident that left two others dead.
According to Tuoi Tre
