21 dead in northwest China coal mine accident

All 21 miners trapped underground were killed after a roof collapse occurred at a coal mine in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, according to local authorities on Sunday morning.

The accident took place at around 16:30 on Saturday at the Lijiagou coal mine of the Baiji Mining Co, Ltd, a privately-owned company founded in 2003, in the city of Shenmu. At that time, 87 people were working underground. Sixty-six of them were brought to safety after the accident.

The city government confirmed 19 were dead, and rescuers were in search of another two trapped miners. The last two trapped miners were found and confirmed dead, according to local authorities.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.