At least 82 dead in Chinese coal mine explosion, state media reports
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- A gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi Province, northern China, has killed at least 82 people, with nine still missing, according to state media.
- The blast occurred at 19:29 local time on Friday, with 247 workers reportedly on duty during the incident.
- Rescue operations are ongoing, supported by 345 personnel from six rescue teams sent by China’s Ministry of Emergency Management.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged full efforts to treat the injured, search for survivors, and investigate the cause, with officials running the mine detained pending accountability.
- While deadly mining accidents were frequent in China during the early 2000s, recent years have seen tightened safety standards, though the cause of this explosion remains unknown.