25 workers trapped in China mine collapse

Beijing: Twenty-five workers were on Friday trapped when a gypsum mine collapsed in China's eastern Shandong Province, days after a massive landslide in a southern city killed four persons and left 75 others missing.

Altogether, 29 people were working in the shaft of the gypsum in Baotai Township, Pingyi County when it collapsed, a county government spokesman said. While four people escaped the tragedy, six people were lifted out of the mine by rescuers, a county spokesman said.

Nineteen others still remained missing. The accident at the mine owned by the Yurong trade company was likely caused by another collapse that hit a neighbouring gypsum goaf, the spokesman was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Rescue work is difficult as part of the underground tunnel has been blocked, on rescuer said. The State Administration of Work Safety has sent a team of experts to the site.

On December 20, a massive landslide struck an industrial estate in China's manufacturing hub of Shenzhen, killing four persons and leaving 75 others missing so far.