Gypsum mine collapse in China: Mine owner commits suicide

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

Labor safety in coal and gypsum mines in China remains a major challenge - Photo: Reuters

According to Shanghai Daily, Mr. Ma Congbo, Chairman of Yurong Co., Ltd. committed suicide on the morning of December 27, two days after the gypsum mine collapse in Baotai town, Pingyi county, Shandong province (eastern China).

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

Meanwhile, Mr. Ma Congbo, the owner of the company operating the mine, jumped into a well in the mine to commit suicide while working with the rescue team at around 2:00 a.m. on December 27, according to Shanghai Daily.

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

The Chinese government often imposes harsh penalties to control safety at major construction sites. In 2011, the Daily Mail reported that a coal mine owner was arrested after a mine collapsed, but despite smearing coal on his face to pretend he was trapped while trying to rescue workers. The accident was caused by a coal gas explosion that killed 34 workers.

According to VOV.VN