At least 90 people have been confirmed dead following a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, in what authorities describe as the country’s deadliest mining disaster since 2009.
According to reports by Reuters, the explosion occurred late Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County, Shanxi Province, while 247 workers were underground.
The mine is operated by Shanxi Tongzhou Group Liushenyu Coal Industry, a subsidiary of Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group.
Rescue operations are still ongoing as emergency officials continue efforts to locate survivors and determine the cause of the deadly explosion.
Local authorities confirmed that investigations have already commenced into the incident, while emergency response teams remain deployed at the site.
Chinese President Xi Jinping directed authorities to spare no effort in treating the injured and carrying out rescue operations. He also ordered a thorough investigation into the disaster and called for strict accountability for anyone found responsible.
Premier Li Qiang urged officials to ensure the timely release of accurate information and emphasized the need for rigorous accountability measures.
State media reports indicated that company executives linked to the mine have been detained as part of ongoing investigations.
Authorities in Shanxi Province have reportedly deployed seven rescue and medical teams, involving more than 700 personnel, to support emergency operations.
Although China has recorded a decline in mining fatalities in recent years due to stricter safety regulations, accidents caused by gas explosions and flooding still occur occasionally.
The last mining disaster of similar scale happened in 2009, when a coal and gas outburst in Heilongjiang Province claimed 108 lives.
