County officials sacked after gypsum mine collapse
CRI, December 30, 2015
Four county officials have been sacked in the wake of a gypsum mine collapse in Shandong province on Friday.
Rescuers try to contact the trapped people at a collapsed mine in Pingyi County, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 28, 2015. Photo: Xinhua]
The collapse has left at least 1 miner dead, and 17 others still trapped underground.
The four officials include the party chief of Pingyi County, as well as the county head and his two deputies.
The gypsum mine collapsed with 29 people underground on Friday.
Four managed to escape, and another seven were later pulled to safety.
Rescuers have managed to drill several holes to try to make contact with the trapped miners.
However, crews say they've been unable to detect any signs of life at this point.
"As part of the process, we're trying to send signals to the trapped miners by shouting and knocking. We've also been knocking on the pipe regularly and inconsistently to try to get a response."
Crews have sent in food and other provisions through the emergency shaft.
The cause of the collapse remains unclear at this point.
Meanwhile, local authorities have confirmed the owner of the mine committed suicide early Sunday morning.
