Gas Explosion Kills 90, Nine Missing at Shanxi Coal Mine

A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County, Changzhi, Shanxi Province on Friday evening has killed 90 workers and left nine others unaccounted for, state media reported. A total of 247 miners were underground when the blast occurred.

Rescue teams continue all-out efforts to find the missing. About 123 of the workers who were rescued are receiving hospital treatment; two are reported in critical condition and two in serious condition. ‘As long as there is hope, we will make every possible effort,’ a rescuer told Xinhua.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered a comprehensive rescue operation, medical treatment for the injured, a full investigation into the cause, and legal accountability where appropriate. He also urged authorities to draw lessons from the accident, strengthen workplace safety, and step up emergency preparedness and flood-control measures as the country enters its flood season. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has led a government team to the site to oversee rescue work.

Mining accidents remain a recurring problem in China, often blamed on poor working conditions and weak regulatory enforcement. The deadliest recent incident occurred in 2005, when a gas explosion at the Sunjiawan coal mine in Liaoning province killed 214 people. Local and national officials have pledged investigations and tighter safety measures following the latest disaster.