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BEIJING, July 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Six students from a Chinese university drowned on Wednesday after falling into a flotation tank during a study tour of a mine, according to state media. 

The students from China's Northeastern University were learning about the flotation process at the mine in Inner Mongolia when a grate fell into the tank, state news agency Xinhua reported. 

"Despite all-out efforts, medical personnel confirmed six drowned," it added.

A teacher was also injured in the accident, which happened on Wednesday morning. 

Mine safety in China has improved in recent decades, as has media coverage of major incidents, many of which were once overlooked.

But accidents still occur frequently in an industry where safety protocols are often lax.

Local authorities, the university and the owner of the mine, China Gold Group Co., "are handling follow-up work", Xinhua said.