Owner of collapsed Chinese mine commits suicide
December 27, 2015
Ma Congbo, owner of the collapsed gypsum mine in Shandong province, jumped into a well and drowned in an apparent suicide during rescue efforts on Sunday.
Seventeen miners remained trapped under ground following the collapse of the mine on Friday. Around 700 rescuers are attempting to reach the men, but their efforts have been stalled by the dangerous conditions in the mine.
China is known for doling out severe punishments to the owners of collapsed mines, a common problem in a country where poor infrastructure and dangerous working conditions have frequently drawn criticism. In 2014 alone, 931 people were killed in mining accidents.
On Saturday, one miner in Shandong province whose leg was stuck under a boulder was brought to safety, bringing the total number of people rescued to seven.
blc/bk (dpa, AP)