Deadly Coal Mine Blast Claims 82 Lives in Northern China

Eighty-two lives were lost in a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China. Officials updated the initial death toll from 90 due to confusion right after the disaster.

The tragedy occurred at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County, Shanxi Province, late Friday night. There were 247 workers underground at the time. Two remain missing, 128 are injured and being treated in hospitals, while 35 managed to escape unharmed.

Authorities explained that earlier reports of a higher death toll were caused by the chaos at the scene and unclear records.

"After the incident the scene was chaotic, the company’s count of the number of workers was not clear, which led to the initial inaccurate number," said Guo Xiaofang, head of Qinyuan County.

Even with the corrected number, this explosion is the deadliest mining disaster in China since 2009, when a similar incident at the Xinxing coal mine killed 108 people.

All four mines owned by Shanxi Tongzhou Coal and Coking Group have been shut, and company executives are being detained for investigation.

President Xi Jinping ordered officials to "spare no effort" in rescuing the injured and conducting recovery operations, according to state news reports.

A state-run newspaper called for more focus on safety measures to prevent such disasters, urging policymakers to "completely reverse the tendency to prioritise development over safety."

Shanxi Province is a key area for China’s coal production, which remains vital for the country’s energy supply despite the growth of renewable alternatives.

The Liushenyu mine has an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tonnes. Last year, China produced a total of 4.83 billion tonnes of coal, government figures show.

China’s Deadliest Coal Mine Accidents

This recent explosion is now recorded as the deadliest coal mine accident in China since 2009.

• 1950: Yiluo Mine accident in Henan Province – over 174 killed.
• 1960: Methane explosion at Laobaidong Coal Mine, Shanxi Province – 684 killed.
• 1991: Gas explosion at Sanjiao River mine, Shanxi Province – 147 killed.
• 2000: Gas explosion at Muchonggou Coal Mine, Guizhou Province – 162 killed.
• 2004: Two disasters: Explosion at Daping Coal Mine, Henan (148 killed), and Chenjiashan Coal Mine, Shaanxi (166 killed).
• 2005: Three major incidents: Explosion at Sunjiawan colliery, Liaoning (214 killed); Flood at Daxing Mine, Guangdong (123 killed); Explosion at Dongfeng Coal Mine, Heilongjiang (around 170 killed).
• 2007: Floods caused by heavy rains in Shandong Province – 181 killed.
• 2009: Explosion at Xinxing Mine, Heilongjiang Province – 108 killed.

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