Chinese rescuers were on a frantic search for the 19 mine workers who were still missing following a gypsum mine collapse that trapped 25 people in Shandong Province on Christmas Day, the Pingyi county government revealed.

The gypsum mine collapse took place less than a week after a landslide at a dumpsite in Shenzhen killed one person and left 75 others missing, presumed dead.

Like Us on Facebook

Six of the 25 miners have already been located but rescue workers were still mapping out plans to bring the miners to safety as another team continues to look for the other 19 trapped workers.

A county government spokesman said there were 29 people working in the shaft at about 7:56 a.m. at the Baotai Township, Pingyi County, Friday, when the mine collapsed.

Four of the workers were safely lifted above ground while the 25 others were trapped underneath, according to the spokesman in an interview with the official Xinhua news agency.

The mine, owned by Yurong Commercial and Trade Ltd Co, produces gypsum, a soft sulfate mineral that is widely used in construction, sources said.

Further details about the incident were not immediately disclosed but reporters covering the scene saw rescue expert going down to check the collapsed mine. Firefighters were also directing the rescue operation on the ground.

A fleet of ambulances were also parked near the incident site as armed policemen were unloading woods for tunnel support.

Authorities said they were investigating a possible link to another collapse that hit a neighboring gypsum goaf.

In another workplace related incident, three workers died while another six were hurt when a tower crane collapsed at a construction site in Qingdao City, still in Shandong Province.

According to the Xinhua news agency, the nine workers were at the Guoxin Sports Center in Qingdao City when the tower crane suddenly collapsed. Three of the workers were declared dead before reaching the hospital while the six others were treated for various injuries.

TagsChina Mine Collapse, China Mine Accident, China Accident, Shanding Mine Accident, Shandong Mine Collapse