China has now confirmed the information that in February, a coal mine in the northern Inner Mongolia area partially collapsed, killing 53 people, according to state media.
The Punch reported that a 180-meter-high (590-foot) slope at an open-pit mine in the isolated Alxa League gave way, burying people and cars below, and leaving dozens of people missing.
Six survivors and six dead were first discovered among the wreckage by rescuers, but officials withheld any additional information for months.
According to the provincial emergency agency, 47 people who were listed as missing following the event “had been confirmed to have no vital signs,” according to state television CCTV on Wednesday.
“The large-scale collapse on February 22 killed 53 people,” according to CCTV, which added that the search and rescue work has now been completed.
At the time, Chinese President, Xi Jinping issued an order for officials to “do everything possible to search for and rescue the missing people as well as protect the security of people’s lives and property and overall social stability” as an indication of the seriousness of the crisis.
According to local government announcements, authorities sent hundreds of employees and more than 100 pieces of equipment as part of the rescue operation.
In a sector where safety procedures are typically lacking, accidents nonetheless happen frequently, especially at the most basic sites.
