Gypsum mine collapse in China: Mine owner commits suicide.

According to Shanghai Daily, Ma Congbo, chairman of Yurong Co., Ltd., committed suicide on the morning of December 27, two days after the gypsum mine collapse.

Workplace safety in coal and gypsum mining areas in China remains a major challenge - Photo: Reuters

According to Shanghai Daily, Ma Congbo, chairman of Yurong Co., Ltd., committed suicide on the morning of December 27, two days after the gypsum mine collapse in Baotai Township, Pingyi County, Shandong Province (eastern China).

Since the incident on December 25th, of the 29 workers at the mine at the time, 11 have been rescued, 17 remain trapped underground, and one has died. Rescue teams have drilled a hole to deliver food and water to the trapped workers.

Meanwhile, Ma Congbo, the owner of the company operating the mine, committed suicide by jumping into a well in the mine while working with rescue teams at around 2 a.m. on December 27, according to Shanghai Daily.

The mine collapse occurred just days after a landslide in Shenzhen (Guangdong province), which killed one person and left 75 others missing, according to AP.

Chinese authorities often impose strict penalties to enforce workplace safety in areas with large construction projects. In 2011, the Daily Mail reported that a coal mine owner was arrested after a mine collapse, despite deliberately smearing coal dust on his face to pretend he was also trapped while rescuing workers. The coal mine accident was caused by a coal gas explosion that killed 34 workers.

According to VOV.VN