6 College Students Die Tragically in Mining Pond Accident — Students Reveal Hidden Dangers Suggesting the Cause Was Not Simple

On July 23, 2025, six students from Northeastern University died after falling into a flotation tank when a metal grating gave way during a visit to Inner Mongolia Mining Co., a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned enterprise China National Gold Group. One accompanying teacher was injured. (Video screenshot)

[People News] On July 23, six junior-year students majoring in Mineral Processing Engineering from Northeastern University tragically died while visiting a copper-molybdenum ore processing plant under China National Gold Group’s Inner Mongolia Mining Co. During a tour of the flotation area, the metal grating beneath them suddenly gave way, causing them and a teacher to fall into a flotation tank. While the teacher survived with injuries, all six students died. As the incident gains attention, revelations from students in the same program have brought to light deeper, hidden issues behind the tragedy.

According to Chinese media reports, the accident occurred in the morning as the six students were on a study visit to Wunugetushan Concentrator. The grating gave way, and the group fell into a flotation tank. Though they were pulled out, all six students were confirmed dead. One accompanying teacher was injured.

The mine has since suspended production. Public information from China National Gold shows this site is a key central-government-backed project aimed at developing minority regions and is China's fourth-largest known copper-molybdenum deposit.

Students Reveal Critical Safety Hazards

Students from the same department at Northeastern University revealed that the flotation tank where the accident occurred has a vertical depth exceeding 10 meters, and the slurry inside resembles "a mudslide." Once someone falls in, it's nearly impossible to move, making it a death trap for unsuspecting students.

What is a flotation tank? It's a large container — often 5 to 6 meters deep — filled with slurry, a mix of crushed ore, water, and chemical reagents. It’s thick and dense like a swamp, with some tanks reaching temperatures of 60°C (140°F), enough to cause burns. If someone falls in, they are sucked in like quicksand and can be severely injured or killed by rotating machinery inside, making escape virtually impossible.

Students also pointed out that the number of people present during the tour was abnormally high. Normally, the plant's daily operation involves 20–30 workers per workshop, but during the visit, over 40 people were in the area.

Moreover, many people stood on the same metal grating at once. Students said this likely exceeded the grating’s load capacity. It is common sense that a grating under prolonged, excessive weight is at high risk of collapse.

In this tragedy, the very grating meant to ensure safety became the instrument of death.

One teacher explained that the flotation equipment includes impellers at the bottom of the tank, occupying a large area. If a person falls in, mechanical injury from the impeller could be even more lethal than drowning.

There were online rumors suggesting the bodies of the six students may have been mutilated. However, staff at the Manzhouli City Funeral Home clarified that the bodies were delivered on the afternoon of the 23rd, are currently not open to viewing, but they look normal — not as damaged as social media has claimed — and "will be cleaned up thoroughly."

The tragic death of six young students has deeply saddened and angered netizens.

“This is a grave failure of the plant. Unfamiliar personnel must not enter production zones without supervision by experienced staff.”

“This was a major lapse in enforcing safety responsibilities. Authorities must hold those involved accountable to meet the public’s expectations.”

“Six children gone — their parents' world has collapsed.”

“It’s heartbreaking. As a parent, I can’t imagine the pain. We’ve suffered enough. There’s no more reason to keep going.”

“These students were just about to enter the workforce. Now, they’ve died due to serious safety failures. Their families will never recover from this pain. Rest in peace, kids.”

“Six young lives lost while interning — six families destroyed. This is a heartbreaking wake-up call about the importance of industrial safety.”

“This is clearly a man-made disaster. How could the grating collapse if it was designed properly? The flotation tank is known to be extremely dangerous. The safety factor must be foolproof. The collapse indicates poor design, weak safety checks, and irresponsible management. This is a severe safety incident. Six bright futures lost in an instant. Man-made disasters are more terrifying than tigers!”

Before the incident, the mine claimed that its flotation area had achieved a “zero-accident” safety record. △