Gypsum mines suspend operations after accident in E China

Rescuers work at the collapsed mine site in Pingyi county, East China's Shandong province, Dec 26, 2015. Eleven of the 29 people trapped on Friday in the collapsed gypsum mine have been rescued by Saturday morning, rescuers said. A total of 29 people were working underground when the collapse occurred at about 8 am Friday. Ten of them were rescued on the same day. Rescuers have located the 18 miners who are trapped at two different sites. [Photo/Xinhua]

JINAN - Government of East China's Shandong province has ordered gypsum mines to suspend operations for safety checks on Sunday, after a gypsum mine collapsed on Friday with one person known to have died and another 17 still trapped.

All gypsum mines in Zaozhuang, Tai'an and Linyi are to stop production immediately and conduct a thorough safety check, according to the provincial government.

A gypsum mine collapsed on Friday morning when 29 people were working underground. One died, four made their way to safety, and another seven were rescued. A total of 17 workers are still trapped underground.

The owner of the mine committed suicide early Sunday morning.