Boss commits suicide following Chinese mine collapse

The owner of a Chinese gypsum mine drowned after jumping into a well in an apparent suicide during rescue efforts for 17 workers still trapped two days after the mine collapsed and killed one person.

State media said Ma Congbo, president of Yurong Commerce and Trade Ltd, was assisting with rescue efforts when he jumped into a mine well and drowned.

Since the mine collapse on Friday in the eastern province of Shandong on Christmas Day, rescuers have pulled 11 workers to safety and recovered one body. Another 17 miners are yet to be found.