A Chinese executive has committed suicide two days after a gypsum mine collapsed trapping 17 people, CNN cited state media reporting.
Ma Congbo, chief executive of Yurong Trade Company that owns the mine in Shandong province, eastern China killed himself by jumping into a mine well during the rescue operation in the early hours of Sunday, according to the provincial government, cited by state news agency Xinhua.
The mine in Pingyi county collapsed Friday while 29 people were working inside. One miner has been confirmed dead. Seventeen are still missing while the rest of the miners were rescued.
The Beijing Youth Daily reported that the collapse of the mine owned by Ma’s company was caused by abandoned gypsum mines nearby. Gypsum is a mineral used to make fertilizer, chalk and other materials.