Chinese mine owner drowns himself after collapse kills 1, traps 17 workers

BEIJING (AP) — The owner of a Chinese gypsum mine that collapsed and left one worker dead and 17 trapped has drowned after jumping into a well in an apparent suicide during rescue efforts.

Quoting a morning briefing by the rescue command centre, state media said Ma Congbo, president of Yurong Commerce and Trade Ltd. Co., was assisting with rescue efforts on Saturday morning when he jumped into a mine well and drowned.

Since the mine collapse on Friday, rescuers have pulled 11 workers to safety and recovered one body. Another 17 miners are yet to be found.

Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral that is widely used in construction.

Chinese authorities typically mete out harsh punishments, including jail sentences, to company management and local work safety officials following major work safety disasters.