VietNamNet Bridge - While illegally mining gold in Phuoc Hiep commune, Phuoc Son district, the central province of Quang Nam, three men were buried beneath hundreds of cubic meters of rock and soil after the mine collapsed at night.

Illegally mining gold in Quang Nam. Photo VNE

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Le Van Hong from the Quang Nam Provincial Police Agency said that by the evening of January 12, the authorities still did not find the bodies of Mr. Bui Van Hung, Mr. Bui Van Thao and Mr. Ha Anh Tan, residents of Suoi Con village, Kim Boi commune, Kim Boi district, Hoa Binh province. The three victims were buried when the gold mine collapsed at 9pm on January 10.

Hong said that due to the large volume of soil and rock, the authorities mobilized a lot of people and machinery to dig the site but they could not find the bodies yet. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Mr. Pham The Quyen, Chairman of Phuoc Son district said that four firms were licensed to mine gold in Bai Cao, where the accident occurred. Their licenses were expired but some people still illegally mined gold there.

Earlier, in September 2013, a gold mine in Dong Giang district, Quang Nam province collapsed, killing two and injuring one. In May 2013 in Phu Ninh district, Quang Nam province, three people died in a similar incident. In April 2013, three men died in a gold mine in Phuoc Son district.

Le Ha