A deadly China coal mine explosion has killed at least 82 people in northern China, making it one of the country’s worst industrial disasters in recent years. Authorities confirmed that rescue operations are still ongoing as emergency teams continue searching for several workers who remain missing underground.
The China coal mine explosion happened on Friday evening at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, a major coal-producing region known for its large mining industry. According to state media reports, a gas explosion occurred at about 7:29 pm local time while hundreds of workers were inside the mine.
At the time of the blast, 247 miners were underground. Most workers were successfully evacuated by Saturday morning, but officials later confirmed that at least 82 people had lost their lives. Rescue teams are still searching intensively for nine workers who remain unaccounted for.
State broadcaster CCTV aired footage showing rescue personnel carrying stretchers while ambulances and emergency vehicles surrounded the mining site. Medical teams have also been deployed to treat survivors and assist affected families.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out efforts” to rescue trapped workers, treat the injured, and investigate the cause of the disaster. He also called on local authorities and government departments to strengthen workplace safety measures and prevent future industrial tragedies.
Initial investigations reportedly found dangerous levels of carbon monoxide inside the mine following the explosion. Earlier reports had suggested only a few deaths, but the death toll rose sharply as rescue efforts continued through the night.
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Authorities confirmed that a person responsible for the mining company has been placed under legal investigation following the incident.
Shanxi province has long been considered the centre of China’s coal industry, but mining accidents continue to occur despite safety improvements over recent decades. Experts have frequently raised concerns about weak enforcement of safety regulations and poor working conditions in some mines.
China remains the world’s largest consumer of coal, and mining disasters continue to draw attention to safety risks within the country’s industrial sector.
