Six miners killed by toxic fumes, another in critical condition, at illegal gold mine in north China
Miners were paid almost twice the standard rate in their home provinces so accepted the risks
Six miners are dead and another is fighting for his life after an illegal gold mine collapsed on the outskirts of Beijing on Friday night, according to a local newspaper.
The victims were believed to have inhaled highly toxic fumes, The Beijing News reported.
Five of the miners were trapped underground and were dead by the time rescuers reached them on Saturday afternoon. Two survivors were rushed to hospital, where one died later and the other remains in intensive care.
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It was not clear what triggered the accident at the mine, located in Jinhaihu town on the border with Tianjin municipality.
Authorities are investigating the case and six suspects have been detained for illegal mining.
The goldfield where the mine is located covers an area of 13 square kilometres, and is riddled with illegal mines.
Local authorities detained four suspected illegal miners in a crack down earlier this year.