China’s worst coal mining blast in over a decade kills 90
Yahoo News Singapore • • world
Key Points:
- A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, northern China, has killed at least 90 people, marking the deadliest mining disaster in the country in over a decade.
- Rescue efforts are ongoing but complicated by inaccurate underground maps and some workers lacking GPS trackers, forcing teams to search all tunnels rather than specific locations.
- Chinese leader Xi Jinping has ordered an all-out rescue operation and a thorough investigation, with Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing leading the emergency response at the site.
- The incident highlights ongoing safety challenges in China's coal mining industry despite recent regulatory improvements, with the country continuing to rely heavily on coal for energy amid its green transition.
- Authorities have detained the person in charge of the mine's operating company, and investigations into the cause of the blast, including elevated carbon monoxide levels, are underway.