Deaths rise to 3 after China mine collapse

Rescue teams continued to search for missing people after an open pit mine collapsed in China’s northern Inner Mongolia region, killing at least four people, injuring several others and leaving another 49 missing. Rocks and dust fell down from the hill top 180 meters above the mine on Wednesday, burying mining machinery and workers.

More than 300 rescue workers operating 129 rescue vehicles were participating in the search. The company running the mine, Inner Mongolia Xinjing Coal Industry Co. Ltd., was fined last year for multiple safety violations. Inner Mongolia is a key region for mining of coal and various minerals and rare earths.