At least 82 people have been confirmed dead and dozens are feared trapped underground after a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, according to state media. The accident occurred on Friday evening at the Liushenyu coal mine in Changzhi city, Shanxi province, with around 247 workers underground at the time.
Rescue Efforts Underway
The death toll rose sharply from initial reports, with state broadcaster CCTV stating on Saturday that the explosion had resulted in 82 deaths and nine people missing. Rescue operations are ongoing, and officials reported that some of those trapped are in critical condition.
President Xi's Statement
President Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to treat the injured and urged a thorough investigation into the incident. He emphasized that all regions and departments must learn from this accident, remain vigilant about workplace safety, and resolutely prevent major and catastrophic accidents.
Carbon Monoxide Levels Exceeded Limits
Xinhua news agency reported that carbon monoxide levels at the mine had exceeded limits. Carbon monoxide is a highly toxic, odourless gas that can be lethal in high concentrations. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.
Shanxi's Coal Mining Industry
Shanxi province is China's main coal mining region, producing 1.3 billion tons of coal last year, nearly a third of China's total. The province is larger than Greece and has a population of about 34 million, with hundreds of thousands of miners.
