On October 21, the China News Service reported that a traffic accident involving two heavy-duty semi-trailers occurred near a coal mine in the Zhungezhuqi district of Ordos City, Inner Mongolia. According to the official Weibo account of the Inner Mongolia Internet Illegal and Harmful Information Reporting Center, prompt actions by local residents and police resulted in minor injuries to one driver, with no fatalities. However, the vehicles and surrounding property suffered varying degrees of damage.
In the aftermath of the accident, some internet users resorted to creating sensationalized rumors to attract attention and boost their online presence, disturbing public order in the process. The day after the incident, cyber police in Zhungezhuqi discovered a post from a user on a short video platform, claiming that a “serious traffic accident at a coal mine resulted in numerous deaths.” The poster continued to engage with followers in the comments, further misleading viewers.
The local cyber police summoned the user, identified as Wang, for questioning. Wang admitted he had not been present at the scene when the accident occurred but had downloaded video footage from a WeChat group. To gain attention, he exaggerated the facts and fabricated the claim of “countless casualties” associated with the traffic incident before sharing it online. As a result, the Zhungezhuqi police have issued an administrative detention for Wang.
