On October 5th, five people entered an abandoned gold mine in Banmian Town, Youxi County, Sanming City, Fujian Province and tragically lost their lives for unknown reasons.
According to the government of Youxi County, Sanming City, Fujian Province, on the evening of October 5th, they received a report at around 9:50 am that five people had entered the abandoned mine shaft of a mining enterprise in Banmian Town and went missing. Rescue teams rushed to the scene and found the five missing individuals around 1:20 pm, who were immediately taken to the hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, by around 3:00 pm, all five individuals were pronounced dead despite the rescue efforts. The cause of death is currently under investigation.
Government officials from Youxi County explained to Jiemu News that the incident occurred in an abandoned gold mine shaft that had been unused for many years and was sealed off. The five individuals were all from out of town, and it is unclear why they entered the shaft, speculating that they may have entered to scavenge for valuables, resulting in the tragic accident.
Considering the incident happened during the National Day holiday, some netizens speculated, “With gold and copper coexisting, perhaps they wanted to go in and pick some gold.” Others suggested they might have been attempting a live stream exploration.
Some internet users also pointed out the possibility of death due to lack of oxygen, stating, “Common sense dictates that when entering caves, one should bring a lighter and candles. If the candle extinguishes, it means there is poor ventilation inside, high levels of nitrogen dioxide, prompting the need to get out quickly. In some places, when digging wells to certain depths, large fans need to be used to blow air inside, creating circulation to prevent nitrogen dioxide suffocation.” Sanming has been on the trending list twice due to mining-related incidents, first with an accident at Datian mine and now with the tragedy at the abandoned mine shaft in Youxi.
These incidents serve as a somber reminder of the dangers associated with abandoned mine exploration and the importance of safety measures when engaging in such activities. Investigations continue to uncover the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate event.
This news highlights the importance of adhering to safety protocols and regulations when entering hazardous areas like abandoned mines, in order to prevent further tragedies and loss of life.