Most trapped in Inner Mongolia coal mine are drivers: insider

(ECNS) -- An insider at the Xinjing Coal Mining Company in Alxa League in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region said most people trapped in the coal mine collapse accident are drivers of dump trucks and excavators.

The insider added that the open-pit coal mine where the incident occurred is deep. The coal mine was reduced to rubble, like an earthquake had happened.

Fifty-one people remained missing as of 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, according to CCTV.

The incident happened Wednesday afternoon, when local firefighters received a call, saying a mine had collapsed over a large area, trapping staff and vehicles.

According to Tianyancha, a commercial query platform providing online information of entities, the Xinjing Coal Mining Company has been included in the List of Dishonest Enterprises for 13 times and restricted from high consumption for eight times.

In 2022, the company was enforced by the Wuzhong City Intermediate People's Court to pay 80.75 million yuan (about $11.72 million), and punished by local mine safety supervision department and comprehensive law enforcement department respectively.

Li Zhongzeng, head of Alxa League, said the landslide is very serious, which makes rescue operations very difficult.

A total of 11 rescue teams carrying equipment have been dispatched to the site and a 200-member team and other rescue forces, including those from neighboring regions, are rushing to the scene.