At least 90 killed in coal mine gas explosion in China

At least 90 people have been killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, with authorities warning the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue, state media reported.

The explosion took place on Friday (May 22, local time) at the Liuhangyu coal mine in Shanxi province, according to official reports. Hundreds of rescue workers have been deployed to the site, where efforts are ongoing to locate survivors.

Footage from state broadcaster showed paramedics carrying stretchers as ambulances lined the scene. More than 100 injured workers have reportedly been taken to hospital.

According to reports, the explosion took place at around 7:29pm (local time), while 247 workers were on duty underground at the time of the blast.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for intensified rescue efforts, urging authorities to ensure medical treatment for the injured and to make “no mistakes or negligence” in the ongoing search for survivors. He also ordered a full investigation into the cause of the explosion and accountability for those responsible.

State news agency Xinhua reported that several officials linked to the mine’s operations have been detained. The exact cause of the blast has not yet been confirmed, though early reports suggested dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide — a highly toxic and odorless gas — were detected in the mine.

China’s emergency management ministry has dispatched 345 rescue personnel from six specialized teams to assist in the operation.

Shanxi province, one of China’s key coal-producing regions, has long been associated with mining accidents. While safety standards have improved in recent years, deadly incidents continue to occur.

In 2023, 53 people were killed in a coal mine collapse in Inner Mongolia, while a 2009 explosion in Heilongjiang province left more than 100 dead.

China remains the world’s largest coal consumer and the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, even as it rapidly expands renewable energy capacity.