A coal mine collapsed near Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay after heavy rain.
State media reported that the accident, which happened Monday at a mine operated by the Hon Gai Coal Company, a unit of Vietnam’s state coal miner Vinacomin killed five people.
Early Tuesday morning, a rescue team recovered the bodies of miners aged between 23 and 47 years old.
Disaster authorities reported heavy rainfall in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh province, at the time of the accident, causing landslides and flooding several homes.
Other parts of northern Vietnam have also experienced heavy rain for days, triggering flash floods and landslides. On the outskirts of Hanoi, several communities have been living in floodwater for a week.
Scientists warn that climate change is making extreme weather events more intense and frequent. Despite efforts to improve its environmental record, Vietnam still relies heavily on coal-fired power plants, leading to frequent mining accidents.
Since April, seven others have died in mine accidents in Quang Ninh province.
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