Massive gas explosion at Chinese coal mine kills 82, injures over 120

(SeaPRwire) –   Per the Associated Press (AP), a massive gas explosion at a coal mine in China late Friday has left at least 82 people dead, over 120 others hospitalized, with two individuals still missing.

The devastating explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County, which sits in north China’s Shanxi province, stood as the deadliest mining accident in the country in recent years.

Local authorities who have launched an investigation into the incident stated that they discovered “serious violations” committed by the mine’s operator, Shanxi Tongzhou Coal & Coke Group.

According to Reuters, the explosion also sparked a round of intensified safety inspections across China’s coal industry, which tightened the supply forecast for coking coal and drove prices up sharply on Monday.

The AP reported that the explosion created a chaotic scenario, with thick smoke filling the mine and suffocating numerous victims trapped underground.

The news outlet added, citing state broadcaster CCTV, that one miner had lost consciousness and many others had suffered exposure to toxic gas.

The explosion has reportedly increased oversight from Chinese officials, who noted that investigators found multiple violations at the site, though specific details remain unclear.

The AP reported that in 2024, China’s National Mine Safety Administration had previously classified the mine as disaster-prone due to its “high gas content”.

The outlet also shared that state media reported the blueprints submitted by the mine did not align with the actual layout of the site, which made rescue efforts more complicated.

Per the AP, citing official Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a full-scale rescue operation for those still missing and ordered a thorough investigation to hold those responsible to account.

The AP also noted that the state-run news outlet later reported that company officials linked to the disaster had been “placed under control”.

Even as officials have pledged to strengthen oversight of the mining sector, China has experienced a string of deadly mining disasters over recent decades.

In 2023, a reported collapse at an open-pit mine in Inner Mongolia left at least 53 people dead.

In 2009, a reported gas explosion at a coal mine in Heilongjiang province killed 108 people.