Nine people were buried in a deserted mine pit in northwest
China's Gansu Province after it suddenly caved in on
Wednesday morning.
The accident occurred at around 8:00 AM on Wednesday when 15
local farmers were foraging in a deserted stibium mine in Lintan
County, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gannan, said Feng Wenge,
vice head of the prefecture, on Thursday.
Six escaped but nine others were buried 20 to 40 meters
underground, after 16,000 cubic meters of earth collapsed, say
rescuers, who have not yet been able to establish contact with the
miners.
Snowfall and the location of the pit, on a slope about 3,000
meters above sea level, are hindering rescue efforts.
(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2007)