China Dam Collapse Kills 6

Beijing, China (AHN) - Six people were killed while seven others are still missing when a dam at a coal mine in northeastern China collapsed on Sunday.

The iron tailing dam is run by the private Dingyang Mining Co. and is located at the Shiqiaozi Village near Anshan City in Liaoning Province.

The dam collapsed early Sunday morning, sending a torrent of sludge and mining waste into villages below, where about 33 households had been destroyed.

According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, the accident also injured some 17 people.

The casualties and the missing are all from the village of Xiangying.

Rescue workers were reportedly searching for the seven missing persons on Sunday evening.

The dam was constructed on a hillside. It ran for about 328 feet (100 meters) at a height of more than 33 feet (10 meters).

Xinhua said the dam was built to prevent tailings from an iron mine spilling out but through the years, it had accumulated water and mud that exerted pressure against its walls.

The dam reportedly also had a 33-foot crack on its side.