Horror of China Coal Mine Explosion Claims 90 Lives
A coal mine in China has exploded, killing at least 90 people. The incident, suspected to have been triggered by a gas explosion, is recorded as the worst mining disaster in China in the last 17 years.
As reported by Xinhua via AFP on Saturday (23/5/2026), the explosion rocked the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi Province on Friday (22/5) evening at approximately 19:29 local time. A total of 247 workers were underground when the blast occurred. Initial reports from Xinhua stated that 201 workers had been evacuated to the surface by Saturday morning; however, the death toll subsequently rose drastically, with at least 9 and confirmed 90 fatalities.
Approximately 345 emergency personnel were deployed to the scene, where rescue teams previously conducted intensive searches for nine individuals who remained missing. The explosion on Friday is noted as the worst mining catastrophe in China since 2009, when at least 108 people died in a mine explosion in Heilongjiang Province.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for “maximum efforts” to care for the injured and has demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. Xi emphasised that all regions and departments must learn from this accident, remain vigilant regarding workplace safety, and firmly prevent and suppress the occurrence of major and catastrophic accidents, according to Xinhua.
Xinhua added that the individual “responsible” for the company involved in the explosion has been placed under legal supervision. The incident occurred after Xinhua previously reported that carbon monoxide levels—a highly toxic and odourless gas—were detected “exceeding limits” in the mining area. Some individuals trapped underground were reported to be in critical condition.
Shanxi, one of China’s major coal mining hubs, is also one of the country’s poorer provinces. While mine safety in China has improved over recent decades, accidents still occur frequently in an industry where safety protocols are often lax. China remains the world’s largest consumer of coal and the largest producer of greenhouse gases, despite installing renewable energy capacity at a record pace.