China Coal Mine Explosion Kills 82 in Shanxi as Rescue Teams Search for Missing Workers

At the time of the explosion, 247 workers were said to be on duty

At least 82 people have been confirmed dead, and two others remain missing following a devastating gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, in what authorities say is the country’s deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade. The blast occurred at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi Province at around 7:29 pm local time on Friday, while 247 miners were reportedly underground. Chinese authorities initially placed the death toll at more than 90 before revising the figure to 82 late on Saturday.

According to Chinese state media, more than 100 workers were rescued alive, while 128 people are receiving treatment in the hospital, including two in critical condition. The disaster is now being described as the worst coal mining accident in China since the 2009 Heilongjiang mine explosion that killed more than 100 people. Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered authorities to spare no effort in treating survivors and searching for those still trapped underground.

“The priority is rescuing survivors and ensuring proper treatment for the injured,” Xi said in remarks carried by state broadcaster CCTV.

China’s State Council announced that a “rigorous investigation” would be launched into the cause of the explosion, warning that those responsible would face severe punishment if negligence is discovered.

Rescuers are sent to the coal mine, where a red sign reads "the importance of safety is sky high

Officials said most victims suffered from inhalation of poisonous gas after the explosion. State media reported that dangerous levels of carbon monoxide were detected underground following the blast. Rescue operations have been complicated by flooding near the explosion site and inaccurate mine blueprints, making it difficult for teams to reach some underground sections. China’s Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched 345 rescue personnel from six specialist rescue teams to the mine.

Early Sunday, rescuers deployed robotic mine inspection equipment fitted with infrared cameras and gas sensors to enter inaccessible areas and search for signs of life. Eyewitness survivor Wang Yong described scenes of panic underground moments after the explosion.

“I smelled sulphur, the same smell you get from blasting. I shouted at people to run,” Wang told Chinese state media. “As we were running I could see people collapsing from the fumes. Then I blacked out too.”

He said he regained consciousness nearly an hour later and managed to escape with another worker.

The Liushenyu Coal Mine had already been identified by China’s National Mine Safety Administration in 2024 as posing “severe safety hazards”. Tongzhou Group, the company operating the mine, reportedly received two administrative penalties this year linked to safety violations. Some members of the mine’s management team have since been detained by authorities as investigations continue.

Local officials in Shanxi province, China’s largest coal-producing region, have ordered immediate safety inspections at mines across the province. Production has also been suspended at all four mines operated by Tongzhou Group. Mining safety experts say the tragedy highlights ongoing challenges within China’s coal industry despite years of tighter regulations and crackdowns on illegal operations.

In 2023, 53 people died after a collapse at an open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia, underscoring continued safety risks in one of the world’s largest coal sectors. China remains the world’s biggest consumer of coal and the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, even as it rapidly expands renewable energy projects.

China coal mine explosion