China: mine explosion kills 82 people

Sunday 24 May 2026 - 11:30

A devastating explosion in a coal mine in northern China has killed at least 82 people, according to local authorities. The incident occurred on Friday evening in Shanxi province, one of the country’s main coal-producing regions.

Initial reports had suggested a higher death toll, but officials later revised the figure while confirming that this remains one of the deadliest mining accidents in China in over a decade.

The blast was reportedly triggered by a sudden release of gas inside the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county, located about 520 kilometers southwest of Beijing. A carbon monoxide warning had been issued shortly before the explosion, indicating dangerous underground conditions.

At the time of the accident, 247 miners were working underground. Among them, 128 were hospitalized, including two in critical condition. Thirty-five miners managed to return home safely, while two others remain missing.

Medical teams confirmed that most of the fatalities were caused by asphyxiation due to toxic fumes. Many of the injured are receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat severe gas exposure.

More than 400 rescue workers were deployed, including specialized mining emergency teams sent by national authorities. However, rescue efforts were complicated by deep shafts, steep underground terrain, flooding risks, and inconsistencies in mining maps.

Authorities have placed senior officials of the operating company under investigation, as the mine had previously been sanctioned for safety violations. The company was known to operate in a high-risk methane zone with large-scale coal production.

President Xi Jinping has called for strict accountability and demanded stronger prevention measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future.

Shanxi province remains at the heart of China’s coal industry, but recent years have seen repeated industrial accidents, raising concerns over mining safety standards.