At least five people were killed and another injured after a collapse at an illegal mining site in southwest China's Yunnan province early Sunday, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.
The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. in Baiwu village of Huize County. Authorities did not specify the type of mine involved in the accident.
Rescue teams recovered all six workers trapped at the site and rushed them to hospital. However, five later died from their injuries, while the surviving worker remains in stable condition, the report said.
Local authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse.
The accident comes just over a week after one of China’s deadliest mining disasters in recent years. A coal mine explosion in northern Shanxi province killed at least 82 people, prompting scrutiny of safety standards in the sector.
Officials investigating that incident said the mine operator had committed “serious violations” of regulations.
Mining accidents, though less frequent than in previous decades, continue to occur in China, where authorities have repeatedly pledged to strengthen workplace safety and crack down on illegal mining operations.