At least 82 people have been killed in a coal mine explosion in Shanxi Province, China’s largest coal-producing region, with rescue operations still underway.
The blast occurred Monday at the Liushuyu coal mine in Qinyuan County, according to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency. At the time, 247 workers were underground. Authorities said 82 have died so far, and nine remain missing.
Reports indicate the explosion happened shortly after mine operators detected abnormal carbon monoxide levels and issued an alert. It has not been confirmed whether additional workers remain trapped.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered an all-out rescue effort immediately after the accident. “All possible resources must be deployed in the search for the missing,” Xi said, adding that “those responsible for the accident must be held strictly accountable.” He called on regions and ministries to use the accident as a lesson to strengthen industrial safety inspections and prevent future disasters.
Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing and local officials have been deployed to the site to oversee emergency response operations.
Shanxi accounts for the bulk of China’s coal output. While mine safety has improved over the decades, lax enforcement of protocols continues to contribute to frequent accidents. Last month, four miners were killed in a separate incident at a mine in the Lvliang area.
