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Five die in gold mine accident in Anhui: official

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-09 20:31

HEFEI -- Five people died in a mine accident in east China's Anhui Province Sunday afternoon, local authorities said Monday.

The accident happened at about 3 pm at the facility of Maijie Mining Co. Ltd. in Dongzhi County, Chizhou City, as six maintenance staff were working underground, a municipal information office official said.

The accident happened after four workers went in search of a man who had gone to use the toilet in a shaft but did not return for a long time. The official said that for unknown reasons, there was a shortage of oxygen in that part of the facility and all the five suffocated to death.

The surviving worker was rescued after calling for help, he said.

The workers were all local farmers.

The mine owner was taken into police custody and the bank account of the mine was blocked, he said. An investigation into the cause is under way.

All mines in the county have been closed for inspection.