At least 90 people have been confirmed dead following a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, state media reported on Saturday, marking the country’s deadliest mining disaster in 17 years.
The explosion occurred at about 7:29 p.m. local time on Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi Province, according to state news agency Xinhua.
A total of 247 miners were underground when the blast happened. While most workers were rescued and brought to the surface by Saturday morning, authorities confirmed that at least 90 people lost their lives.
Xinhua reported that 345 emergency responders were deployed to the scene, while rescue teams continued intensive operations in search of nine miners who were initially declared missing.
The tragedy is China’s worst mining accident since 2009, when a mine explosion in Heilongjiang Province claimed 108 lives.
Xi orders full investigation
Footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV showed helmeted rescue workers carrying stretchers from the disaster site as ambulances stood by nearby.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” to treat the injured and ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the explosion.
According to Xinhua, Xi stressed that authorities across the country must learn from the disaster and strengthen workplace safety measures to prevent similar tragedies.
“He emphasised that all regions and departments must draw lessons from this accident, remain highly vigilant on workplace safety, and resolutely prevent major and catastrophic accidents,” the report said.
Authorities also confirmed that a company official linked to the mine has been taken into custody in accordance with the law.
Toxic gas levels exceeded safety limits
Initial reports from state media indicated that carbon monoxide levels inside the mine had exceeded safety limits shortly before the explosion.
Carbon monoxide is a highly toxic and odourless gas that can quickly become fatal in confined spaces.
Earlier reports confirmed only four deaths, with dozens trapped underground. However, the casualty figure rose sharply as rescue and recovery efforts continued through Saturday morning.
Some of the trapped miners were reportedly in critical condition before rescuers reached them.
Concerns over mine safety
Shanxi Province, one of China’s major coal-producing regions, has long been at the centre of the country’s mining industry.
Although mine safety standards in China have improved over the years, fatal accidents still occur, often linked to weak enforcement of safety regulations and poor working conditions.
In 2023, a collapse at an open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia killed 53 people.
China remains the world’s largest consumer of coal and the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, even as it rapidly expands its renewable energy capacity.
AFP
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