Liushenyu coal mine explosion in Shanxi kills at least 90, injures 123
Liushenyu coal mine explosion in Shanxi kills at least 90 and injures 123; rescue teams continue operations while authorities open an investigation into causes.
A powerful methane explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province on Friday evening has killed at least 90 miners and left 123 others hospitalized, state media reported. The Liushenyu coal mine explosion, which occurred at 19:29 local time, trapped dozens underground and prompted a large-scale emergency response. Authorities say rescue teams are still working at the site while an official investigation has been launched into the causes of the blast. President Xi Jinping has ordered all available resources be mobilized to care for the injured and called for a thorough inquiry into the accident.
Death toll and hospital reports
Local and national outlets put the confirmed death toll at a minimum of 90, with the toll likely to rise as rescue operations continue. State broadcaster CCTV reported 123 miners were taken to hospital, of whom four remain in serious or critical condition. Officials also said that 33 of the hospitalized miners had been discharged by mid-afternoon Saturday, reflecting rapid triage and treatment at nearby medical facilities.
Rescue operations and emergency deployment
Rescue forces deployed to the Liushenyu site numbered in the hundreds, with authorities reporting 755 emergency and health personnel on scene. Images and video from state outlets showed helmeted rescuers carrying stretchers and multiple ambulances arriving at the mine entrance. Crews continued to search and clear passages, and equipment to test air quality and clear toxic gases was in operation to make the underground environment safer for recovery teams.
Eyewitness account of smoke and sulphur
A survivor, identified as miner Wang Yong by CCTV, described seeing a cloud of smoke and smelling sulphur before losing consciousness. He said he and others suffered breathing difficulties from the smoke and that he regained consciousness after about an hour underground. Wang’s account underlines the role of toxic gases produced by methane ignition and the immediate dangers miners face during such explosions.
Government response and legal action
President Xi Jinping urged authorities to use “all means” to treat the injured and ordered an in-depth investigation into the incident, state media conveyed. China’s official Xinhua news agency reported that a person responsible for the company operating the mine has been placed under control in accordance with the law. Officials have emphasized the need to draw lessons from the accident and to prevent major workplace disasters, signaling potential administrative and criminal probes.
Safety record in China’s coal sector
The Liushenyu coal mine explosion is the deadliest mining accident in China in 17 years, exceeding fatalities in previous major incidents. The last mining disaster with comparable loss of life occurred in November 2009, when a methane explosion in Heilongjiang province killed 108 people. More recent tragedies include a February 2023 open-pit collapse in Inner Mongolia that killed 53 workers, showing the sector’s ongoing safety challenges despite improvements in regulation and oversight.
Coal demand, employment and regulatory pressures
Coal remains central to China’s energy mix and is a major employer, with over 1.5 million people working in underground coal mines nationwide. The government has balanced ambitions to reduce carbon emissions with the need to secure reliable power supplies, leaving coal as a cornerstone of energy policy. Incidents like the Liushenyu coal mine explosion intensify pressure on regulators to tighten safety standards, improve ventilation and monitoring, and enforce compliance across a sprawling industry.
The immediate priorities at the Liushenyu site are concluding rescue work, accounting for all missing workers and providing care to the injured, while investigators piece together how the methane ignited and why ventilation or other safeguards failed. Authorities have promised transparency in the probe and indicated that those found responsible will face legal consequences under Chinese law. As the investigation proceeds, industry experts say the incident will likely prompt renewed scrutiny of mine safety practices and could accelerate regulatory reviews across China’s coal sector.
