At least 2 dead, 53 missing in northern China coal mine collapse

“A number of workers and vehicles were buried in a large-scale collapse which happened at around 1pm at the open-pit coal mine in Alxa Left Banner,” state broadcaster CCTV reported, referring to a southwestern administrative division of the autonomous region.

Eight people had been rescued by 7pm but two of them were later confirmed dead.

The rescue operation will continue as 53 more people are still missing, local authorities said.

The cave-in had occurred over a “wide area” of a mine operated by the Xinjing Coal Mining Company, the CCTV report said.

Both President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have ordered an investigation into the accident and said no efforts must be spared in the rescue operation, according to the report.