As a result of an accident at a coal mine in China, 48 miners were missing

According to The Guardian newspaper, as a result of the accident, at least 6 workers were killed, 48 were missing. Almost all the equipment that was at the time of the collapse at the bottom of the quarry was disabled.

The incident was reported to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who took the investigation of the causes of the accident under his personal control. The families of the victims will be provided with the necessary financial assistance.

The mine is operated by Inner Mongolia Xinjing Coal Industry. Last year, as investigators found out, its managers were fined for serious safety violations in the mine, including for storing fuel and lubricants in the wrong place.

In addition, the company was mired in debt, and in the period from 2014 to 2022 it was involved in hundreds of lawsuits related to non-payment of salaries due to the contract to workers.

As the owners of the company sought to increase productivity and reduce costs by any means, accidents became commonplace at its coal plants. Last July, a mine collapsed in neighboring Gansu Province, killing 10 people and injuring dozens.

Inner Mongolia is one of the three largest coal-producing regions in China. Last year, a record 4.5 billion tons of coal were produced in the country, which is 9% more than in 2021.

According to official statistics, in 2021 there were more than 350 accidents at coal mines and quarries in China, in 2020 - 434. There is no information for last year.