A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Changzhi city, Shanxi province, killed at least 82 people and injured more than 120 others, local officials reported Saturday. Two miners remain missing following the incident, which marks one of China’s deadliest mining accidents in recent years.
The explosion occurred on Friday evening at the coal mine operated by the Shanxi Tongzhou Coal & Coke Group, which has an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tons. The mine was flagged as disaster-prone in 2024 by China’s National Mine Safety Administration due to its high gas content.
Authorities described the scene as “chaotic” immediately after the explosion, with initial casualty reports varying. Earlier estimates by state broadcaster CCTV had reported 90 deaths, but the official death toll was later revised to 82. Hundreds of rescuers and medical personnel were dispatched to the site, where many of the injured suffered from toxic gas inhalation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an all-out rescue effort and a “thorough investigation” of the accident, emphasizing the need for accountability in accordance with the law. Following these directives, local authorities confirmed that those responsible for the mine’s operation have been “placed under control.”
An investigative team from China’s State Council has been assigned to conduct a “rigorous and uncompromising” probe into the explosion. Local officials cited “serious violations” of safety regulations by the mine’s operator but provided no specific details.
Survivor Wang Yong, interviewed by CCTV, recounted smelling sulfur and seeing smoke during the explosion. “I told people to run,” he said. “As I ran, I saw people being choked by the smoke. And then I blacked out.” Rescue efforts were complicated by discrepancies between the mine’s blueprints and its actual layout.
Why it matters
Shanxi province is China’s main coal mining region, producing nearly a third of the country’s coal with millions of miners working in the sector. Despite governmental efforts to improve mining safety, fatal accidents remain relatively common. This tragedy underscores ongoing challenges in enforcing mining safety regulations amid China’s continued reliance on coal as a key energy source, even as it pushes toward greener alternatives.
Background
China has experienced several deadly mining disasters in recent years. In February 2023, a mine collapse in Inner Mongolia killed 53 workers. One of the most severe incidents occurred in 2009 in Heilongjiang province, where an explosion killed 108 people. Although safety measures have been strengthened, the persistence of gas explosions and other hazardous events continues to highlight systemic risks in China’s coal mining industry.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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