Deadly Gas Explosion at Shanxi Coal Mine
At least 82 people have died following a gas explosion at the Liushenyu coalmine in Qinyuan county, located in northern China’s Shanxi province. This incident marks the country’s most severe mining disaster in 17 years.
The explosion occurred on Friday at 7:29 pm local time (12:29 BST), while 247 workers were underground at the time, according to the state news agency Xinhua.
The cause of the explosion has not yet been confirmed. Initial alerts were triggered by an underground carbon monoxide sensor at the mine, which is operated by the Tongzhou Group. Carbon monoxide is a highly toxic and odorless gas.
Chinese authorities reported late on Saturday that preliminary investigations revealed the mining company had committed "serious illegal violations," as stated by state media.
One survivor, Wang Yong, described his experience during the explosion. He recalled seeing a "puff of smoke," smelling sulphur, and witnessing people choking before losing consciousness.
"I laid down for about an hour and woke up by myself. I called the people next to me and we got out of the mine together," Wang told CCTV, the state media broadcaster.
Rescue Operations and Medical Treatment
State media reported that the government has initiated "a rigorous and uncompromising investigation" into the accident, emphasizing that those responsible will face severe punishment in accordance with laws and regulations.
At least 123 individuals were hospitalized, with four in critical or severe condition, according to CCTV. By 2 pm on Saturday, 33 patients had been discharged and returned home.
Footage released by CCTV showed rescuers wearing helmets carrying stretchers at the site, with ambulances visible nearby. Rescue efforts continue, involving 755 emergency and medical personnel dispatched to the location.
Context of Mining Safety in China
This disaster is the deadliest mining accident in China since 2009, when an explosion in Heilongjiang province killed over 100 people.
China has made significant progress in reducing fatalities in coalmines, which are often caused by gas explosions or flooding, through stricter regulations and improved safety practices since the early 2000s. However, major accidents still occur. For example, in 2023, a collapse at an open-pit coalmine in northern Inner Mongolia resulted in 53 deaths.
In 2020, 23 workers died after becoming trapped in a mine with elevated carbon monoxide levels in Chongqing, a city in southwestern China.
Shanxi province, one of China’s less affluent regions, is the center of the country’s coal mining industry, contributing nearly one-third of the nation’s raw coal production.
Government Response and Investigation
President Xi Jinping urged authorities to "spare no effort" in treating the injured and conducting search and rescue operations. He also ordered an investigation into the cause of the accident and those accountable.
"All regions and departments must draw lessons from this accident, remain constantly vigilant regarding workplace safety … and resolutely prevent and curb the occurrence of major and catastrophic accidents," Xi emphasized.
Premier Li Qiang echoed these instructions, calling for the timely and accurate release of information and strict accountability.
According to Xinhua, authorities have detained at least one individual "responsible for" the company involved in the explosion, in accordance with the law. The definitive cause of the accident remains under investigation by Qinyuan’s local emergency management authority.
In 2024, the Liushenyu mine was among 1,128 mines cited by China’s national mine safety administration for "severe safety hazards." The regulator specifically warned about high gas levels at the site.
When releasing its findings, the administration urged provincial authorities to "urge severely disaster-prone coalmines to implement measures for regional disaster management."
Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.
