Five people have died after a mine shaft collapsed during an illegal mining operation in southwestern China, state media reported on Sunday (31 May), just days after the country's deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade claimed at least 82 lives.
The collapse occurred at around 4:30am local time in Huize County, in Yunnan province, according to state news agency Xinhua, which cited local authorities.
Six people were rescued from the site and taken to hospital. Five later died from their injuries, while the sole survivor remains in stable condition, the report said.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse. Officials have not said which mineral was being extracted at the site.
The accident comes less than two weeks after a devastating gas explosion at a coal mine in northern Shanxi province.
The blast, which occurred on 22 May, killed at least 82 people, making it China's deadliest mining accident since 2009. Two people remain missing and 128 others were injured.
The disaster shocked the country and renewed concerns about safety standards in China's mining sector, one of the world's largest.
Chinese authorities have pledged a full investigation into the Shanxi explosion.
Preliminary findings revealed a series of serious safety violations, including unmarked tunnels, missing worker-tracking systems and fake doors at the mine.
The latest accident in Yunnan Province is likely to increase pressure on regulators as they seek to improve oversight and prevent further tragedies.
Mining remains a vital industry in China, but accidents continue to occur despite years of efforts to strengthen safety regulations. For many families affected by the latest incidents, the investigations will offer little immediate comfort as they come to terms with the loss of loved ones.
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