(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-25 15:43

ANSHAN, Liaoning Province - Six people were confirmed dead and seven others were missing after an Iron mine tailing dam collapsed on early Sunday morning in northern Liaoning Province.

Another 17 people were injured after the accident happened at around 6 a.m. at Shiqiaozi Village of Anshan City, according to local rescue headquarters.

The exact casualty is under investigation and the death toll is highly possible to increase, an official with the rescue headquarters told Xinhua by telephone.

Previous report saying the dam belongs to a coal mine which was later confirmed by local government as an iron mine owned by the Dingyang Mining Co. Ltd., a iron ore producer.

A large quantity of mud-flow-like refuse ores and water rushed down into the villages which are about 2 kilometers away from the dam. More than 30 houses were destroyed, said Yang Jinfang, head of the publicity department of Anshan City.

"The situation is serious as the dam is situated at a hill side and hundreds of people live in the nearby villages," said Yang, adding rescuers are searching for the missing.

The dam is used to contain waste ores, however large quantity of water has stored within the dam over the past years, said Yang.

The Dingyang Mining Co. Ltd is a subsidiary of the privately-run Xiyang Corporation, a magnesium refractory products and fertilizers producer of Liaoning.