Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over a deadly gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi Province, offering condolences to President Xi Jinping and the people of China in a post on X. He said he was praying for the early and safe recovery of those still missing and for strength for bereaved families.
The blast, which occurred at about 7:30 pm local time on Friday in Qinyuan county roughly 520 km southwest of Beijing, is being described as one of China’s deadliest coal mine accidents in over a decade. State and media reports say at least 90 people have died, though counts have shifted rapidly during rescue operations. Authorities reported that 247 workers were underground when the explosion happened and it remains unclear if more people are still trapped.
Xinhua said the fatal blast came after the mine’s systems triggered a carbon monoxide alert. In the immediate aftermath, local law enforcement detained executives from the company that operates the mine as part of the response.
President Xi Jinping ordered rescuers to ‘make every effort’ to find survivors, called for a thorough handling of the aftermath and urged that those responsible be held to account. He also instructed authorities to learn lessons, investigate and eliminate hidden dangers, and step up flood-prevention measures as the rainy season approaches. Premier Li Qiang similarly demanded all-out efforts to locate the missing and a prompt investigation into the cause.
State broadcaster CCTV and other outlets reported a sharp overnight rise in the confirmed death toll during ongoing rescue work. Officials have emphasized that operations continue amid concerns about safety and environmental complications at the site.
The disaster struck Shanxi, China’s largest coal-producing province, a region that supplied about 1.3 billion tonnes of coal last year—roughly one-third of the country’s output—and has faced repeated safety incidents in recent years. Recent weather extremes in other provinces, including heavy rains in Hunan that caused deaths and missing persons, have heightened concerns about emergency preparedness.
Modi’s public expression of condolence underscores the international attention the catastrophe has drawn and reflects diplomatic solidarity as China conducts rescue and investigation efforts.
