Dozens missing after China coal mine collapse

An open-pit coal mine collapsed Wednesday in China’s northern province of Inner Mongolia. At least five people have died and rescue crews on Thursday continued searching for 48 missing people, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Search operations halted briefly Wednesday evening due to a second massive landslide near the site. The cause of the initial collapse has not been determined and officials in surrounding areas have ordered immediate inspections and safety checks at other mines. Police have detained some individuals during the investigation, the head of the rescue operation told reporters Thursday.

Has China increased coal mining recently? China’s coal production in 2022 increased nine percent year-over-year and Beijing is expected to continue boosting output in the coming years. Inner Mongolia is home to numerous coal, mineral, and rare earth metal mines.

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Muncy’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about clashes between coal mining and climate activism in Germany.