Tomb raider dies in tunnel collapse

Rescue scene. [photo / Xi'an Evening Post]

Four tomb raiders were struck down by a tunnel collapse when attempting to steal treasures from ancient Han Dynasty tombs in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2014, in Xianyang, Shaanxi Province.

According to the Xi'an Evening Post, a man surnamed Fei and his three accomplices made their way to Xinzhuang Village, Xianyang City, to raid the ancient satellite tombs of founder and first emperor of the Han Dynasty Liu Bang, also known as Emperor Gaozu, who ruled China from 202 B.C. to 195 B.C.

The newspaper said Fei, 41, and three other men entered the tunnel they had created by setting off bombs in the early hours of Feb. 14. The tunnel caved in around 4 a.m. and Fei's family reported the incident to police in a desperate bid for help. The man-made tunnel ran 20 meters deep, according to the firemen and policemen who came to rescue.

Nevertheless, rescue workers did not manage to unearth the body of Fei until Sunday afternoon. According to those villagers who knew Fei, the ancient tombs did not bear any marks on the surface and the government's cultural relics department had only once surveyed the area; a mere handful of villagers knew the exact location of the tombs. Locals said they had heard explosions on Feb. 12 and as Feb. 14 marked China's traditional Lantern Festival, the four men were probably raiding the tombs hoping the loud fireworks would cover, or at least distract attention from, their actions.

As far as Fei's three accomplices go, one is currently held in police custody, whereas the other two are still on the run.