International
Tragedy In China: Over 90 Feared Dead After Massive Coal Mine Explosion In Shanxi
At least 90 people have reportedly died following a coal mine explosion in northern China, according to the country’s state media.
The gas explosion occurred at the Liushenyu Coal Mine operated by the Tongzhou Group in Shanxi Province.
Hundreds of rescue personnel have been deployed to the scene.
The explosion happened at about 19:29 local time on Friday (11:29 GMT) at the coal mine, where 247 workers were reportedly on duty when the incident occurred.
Following the tragedy, Chinese President Xi Jinping directed that every effort should be made to treat the injured and search for survivors.
He also instructed authorities to investigate the cause of the explosion and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
According to state media, officials managing the coal mine have been detained. Although the exact cause of the explosion has not yet been disclosed, reports stated that carbon monoxide levels in the mine had “exceeded limits.” Carbon monoxide is a highly toxic and odourless gas.
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management has deployed 345 personnel from six rescue teams to assist in the operation.
Shanxi Province, regarded as China’s coal-mining hub, is also one of the country’s less affluent regions.
In the early 2000s, fatal accidents were frequent in China’s coal mining sector. Although safety regulations have improved significantly in recent years, mining accidents still occur.
In 2023, 53 people were killed after an open-pit coal mine collapsed in Inner Mongolia, while an explosion at a mine in Heilongjiang Province in 2009 claimed more than 100 lives.
China remains the world’s largest consumer of coal and the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, despite rapidly expanding its renewable energy capacity. (BBC)
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