Failure to comply with regulated mining procedures has probably caused a quarry rockslide that left 16 people dead and two missing in the central province of Nghe An Friday, according to local agencies.

Initial investigations show that the owner of the Len Co mining site did not quarry rocks downwards as regulated, but mined at the foot of the mountain, triggering the rockslide.

The quarry, owned by Chin Men Ltd. Co., was licensed for operation in August last year. The company later leased the operation to many other companies.    

Investigations into the accident, which buried 18 workers, and injured six, are still underway.

In December, 2007 a quarry landslide in Nghe An killed 18 workers.