China’s leader Xi Jinping has demanded a full-scale rescue effort and a thorough investigation after a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China killed at least 90 people, making it one of the deadliest mining disasters in the country in recent years.
The explosion occurred Friday night at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi Province. On Saturday, the death toll rose sharply as rescue teams continued working at the site. Xi personally called for every possible effort to treat the injured, carry out scientific search and rescue operations, and properly handle the aftermath, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua. He also ordered officials to investigate the cause and “hold those responsible to account, according to the law.”
Xi’s quick public statement was notable. Chinese officials often delay releasing details about major accidents while they gather information. Shortly after Xi spoke, the reported number of deaths increased dramatically, with updates coming every few minutes.
Early reports from Xinhua said only eight people had died and that more than 200 of the 247 workers underground at the time had been safely brought out. The agency did not explain why the death toll jumped so quickly. As of Saturday morning, the exact cause of the explosion remained unknown. However, local authorities had received an alarm Friday night showing that carbon monoxide levels underground had gone above safe limits.
Live footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed emergency workers at the scene carrying stretchers and mine carts being moved around the area.
The mine is operated by the Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Group. In 2024, it was one of 1,128 mines flagged by China’s National Mine Safety Administration for “severe safety hazards,” specifically because of high gas levels. The agency had warned provincial officials to make sure high-risk mines take extra steps to manage dangers.
China has worked hard over the past decade to improve mine safety and reduce accidents through stricter rules and enforcement. Still, deadly incidents continue to happen. This explosion is the deadliest mining disaster since 2023, when 53 people died in an open-pit coal mine collapse in Inner Mongolia. Just weeks ago, a fireworks factory explosion in Hunan Province killed 26 people. In 2020, 16 miners died from carbon monoxide poisoning in another incident.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the challenges China faces in keeping its large mining industry safe, even as the government pushes for better standards.
