More than 50 people are trapped in a coal mine that collapsed in the western Chinese region of Inner Mongolia on Wednesday, state news agency Xinhua reported.

The official news agency of China said the "accident happened on Wednesday afternoon, and a preliminary investigation showed that more than 50 people were trapped under the mine."

Workers were buried under debris at an open-pit mine in Alxa League, Xinhua reported. The mine is owned by Xinjing Coal Mining Company.

Rescuers have lifted out three people so far, and two of them showed no vital signs, the report said. The cause of the collapse is not yet known.  

China Central Television (CCTV) said a "number of working staff and vehicles have been buried." 

CCTV reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed authorities to "do everything possible to search for and rescue the missing people."

China relies on coal, but mines are not always safe

Inner Mongolia is a key region for mining coal and other minerals in China, which critics say has ravaged the original mountainous landscape of the region.

China relies heavily on coal for power generation and has strived to improve safety at mines. But deadly accidents are not uncommon.

In December 2022, some 40 people were trapped after a gold mine caved in, in the northwestern province of Xinjiang. 

rm/nm (AFP, Reuters, AP)