• A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi Province killed at least 82 workers
• Nine people remain missing as rescue operations continue
• Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out efforts” to save victims and investigate the disaster

At least 82 people have been confirmed dead following a devastating gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, marking one of the country’s deadliest industrial accidents in recent years.

The explosion occurred on Friday, May 22, at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi Province, according to Chinese state media.

Reports said the blast happened around 7:29 p.m. local time while hundreds of miners were underground.

State news agency Xinhua reported that 247 workers were inside the mine at the time of the incident.

Rescue teams managed to bring most of them to the surface by Saturday morning, but authorities later confirmed that 82 workers had lost their lives.

Nine others are still missing as emergency crews continue intensive search operations.

Video footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV showed rescue personnel in helmets carrying stretchers from the disaster scene while ambulances waited nearby.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out efforts” to save the injured and ensure those missing are found.

He also called for a full investigation into the explosion.

According to Xinhua, Xi stressed that “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.”

Authorities said a person “responsible for” the mining company has been placed under investigation and “under control in accordance with the law.”

Initial reports indicated only four deaths, with dozens trapped underground after carbon monoxide levels inside the mine reportedly “exceeded limits.”

Some trapped workers were earlier said to be in critical condition before the death toll rose sharply hours later.

Shanxi Province remains the centre of China’s coal mining industry and one of the country’s largest coal-producing regions.

Although mine safety standards in China have improved over the years, deadly accidents still occur due to weak enforcement of safety regulations and poor workplace practices.

China has witnessed several major mining disasters in recent decades.

In 2023, 53 people were killed after a collapse at an open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia, while a 2009 mine explosion in Heilongjiang Province claimed more than 100 lives.

Despite expanding renewable energy projects at record pace, China remains the world’s largest consumer of coal and the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.

FG seals Plateau mine after gas leak kills 37

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Federal Government had ordered the immediate shutdown of a mining site in Plateau State following the death of about 37 villagers who reportedly inhaled toxic gases during artisanal mining operations.

About 25 other individuals were hospitalised following exposure to suspected carbon monoxide during artisanal mining activities.

The victims, mostly young men aged 20–35, were said to have inhaled toxic fumes trapped in poorly ventilated underground tunnels.