Gas Explosion in Chinese Coal Mine: Death Toll Rises to 90, Nine Missing, and 123 Hospitalised
In a tragic incident, a gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in China's northern Shanxi province has resulted in at least 90 fatalities, according to numerous international reports. The blast, which occurred on the evening of May 22, trapped 247 miners underground, with nine still unaccounted for and 123 sent to the hospital, four of whom are in critical condition.
Background and Context
The Liushenyu coal mine, operated by the Shanxi Tongzhou Group in Qinyuan county, was the site of the explosion. The accident occurred approximately 520km southwest of Beijing. Prior to the disaster, the mine had issued a carbon monoxide alert as levels had reportedly risen beyond the limits, according to Italian news media La Repubblica and China's state news agency Xinhua.
Key Developments and Details
The blast took place at 19:29 local time on May 22. Initial reports from sources such as Sky News and The Hindu indicated that at least eight miners were killed with 38 trapped. However, the death toll quickly rose, with the majority of sources, including The New York Times, BBC News, CBC News, and Al Jazeera English, reporting that at least 82 people were killed. This figure later increased to 90, as reported by Corriere della Sera, Folha de S.Paulo, TASS, and Japan Times.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear, with an investigation ongoing. However, Xinhua had reported an increased carbon monoxide level prior to the incident, suggesting a potential cause. More than 200 workers were rescued and brought safely to the surface in the aftermath of the explosion, with a search and rescue operation continuing for the nine miners still missing.
Implications and Reactions
China's President Xi Jinping has called for an all-out
effort to search for and rescue the missing miners, urging authorities to spare no effort
in the rescue operations. He has also emphasised the need to hold those responsible to account,
and called for lessons to be learned from the incident. In response to the disaster, executives of the company responsible for the mine were detained by Chinese authorities, according to the state agency Xinhua and Brazil's Folha de S.Paulo.
The incident is China's worst mining disaster in 17 years, according to The Times of Israel. This tragic event underscores the ongoing safety concerns in China's mining industry, one of the world's deadliest due to lax regulations, poor operating procedures, and corruption.
Current Status
The search and rescue operation is still underway, and an investigation into the cause of the blast continues. The latest reports indicate that the death toll stands at 90, with nine miners still missing. The incident has triggered a nationwide response, with the Chinese government urging all mines to learn from this accident and ensure that such a disaster does not recur.