A mine, operated by small local firm Xinjing Coal Mining Co, collapsed in an avalanche of rock on Wednesday, leaving workers buried under a pile of debris.
Taking to Twitter, netizen @NilofarAyoubi shared: “Trucks look like ants due to the magnitude of the collapse that bury dozens of them.”
Here is a video of the incident. Viewer discretion is advised.
According to CCTV: “The mine was buried under a pile of debris half a kilometre (1,600 feet) wide and an estimated 80 meters (260 feet) high.”
It was reported that a second landslide occurred, halting rescue efforts, with a risk of more collapses may take place.
Hundreds of rescue workers, along with trained dogs, battled near-freezing conditions as they attempted to excavate the open-pit mine.
The Inner Mongolia Xinjing Coal Industry Company has been fined for numerous safety violations in the last year. The company has not yet released a statement about the catastrophe.
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