Deadliest coal mine explosion in years kills at least 82 people in China, state media say
PBS • • world
Key Points:
- A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, China, killed at least 82 people and injured over 120, marking the deadliest mining accident in the country in recent years.
- The explosion occurred on Friday evening, and initial rescue efforts faced challenges due to discrepancies between the mine's blueprints and the actual layout.
- Local authorities reported serious legal violations by the mine operator, Shanxi Tongzhou Coal & Coke Group, whose mine was previously listed as disaster-prone due to high gas content.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an all-out rescue effort, a thorough investigation, and accountability, with an investigation team from the State Council conducting a rigorous probe.
- Shanxi province, a major coal mining region producing nearly a third of China's coal, has experienced frequent mining accidents despite safety measures implemented in recent years.