Tragedy Strikes in Chinese Mine: 6 University Students Drown During Internship Visit, Raising Safety Concerns
A tragic incident occurred on July 23, 2022, at approximately 10:20 AM, in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, where six students from Northeastern University lost their lives after drowning in a flotation tank during an internship visit to a copper-molybdenum mine operated by China Gold Group. The students, accompanied by a teacher, were on a study visit to learn about floating process technology when a grating plate dislodged, causing them to fall into the tank.
24 July 2025
The incident immediately sparked widespread concern and outrage, with many questioning the safety protocols in place at industrial sites, particularly for student interns. China Gold Group swiftly responded to the incident, activating its emergency response plan and sending personnel to the scene to handle the aftermath.
Currently, the local government, Northeastern University, and China Gold Group are working together to address the fallout from the incident. The company has halted production and is cooperating with authorities to investigate the cause of the accident and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident has significant implications for various sectors, including industry, education, and government. It highlights critical flaws in industrial safety protocols, particularly in hazardous environments like mining, and is likely to lead to increased scrutiny and potential revisions of safety regulations within the mining and heavy industry sectors in China.
Companies, especially state-owned enterprises, will face pressure to conduct immediate safety audits and implement more rigorous measures to prevent similar accidents. The incident also raises serious questions about the safety of student internships, especially those involving potentially dangerous industrial settings.
Universities and companies will need to re-evaluate their internship programs, emphasizing robust risk assessments, comprehensive safety training for interns, and clearer lines of responsibility for student well-being during such placements. The fact that this internship was reportedly linked to graduation requirements adds another layer of ethical and practical consideration.
The public, particularly parents and students, will demand accountability for this tragedy, with strong calls for thorough investigations, severe penalties for responsible parties, and transparent communication regarding the findings and corrective actions. The incident may also erode public trust in both the companies responsible for the internships and the educational institutions sending students to such environments.
The Chinese government will likely face pressure to demonstrate a strong response, which could manifest in increased safety inspections across industries, stricter enforcement of existing regulations, and potentially new legislation aimed at improving workplace safety, particularly for student interns.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in balancing economic development with worker and student safety, potentially pushing the government to reinforce its rhetoric and policies around a "people-first" approach to development.
