Key Points
- Gas explosion struck Liushenyu coal mine in northern China’s Shanxi province
- More than 200 workers rescued safely after the blast
- Earlier reports said carbon monoxide levels had exceeded safety limits
- Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident
ISLAMABAD: A gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China has killed at least 90 people, state media reported on Saturday, the country’s biggest mining disaster in 17 years.
A total of 247 workers were underground at the time of the blast, which occurred at 7:29 pm (1129 GMT) on Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, according to state news agency Xinhua.
At least 90 people had died and 123 others were sent to hospital for treatment, four of whom were in critical or severe condition, state broadcaster CCTV said.
The explosion occurred late Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County in Shanxi, one of the country’s main coal-producing regions.
Chinese state media earlier reported that excessive carbon monoxide levels had triggered the emergency at the mine in Changzhi city.
Initial reports said four workers had died and 90 were trapped underground, with 16 miners believed to be in critical condition.
Updated figures later released by Xinhua said the death toll had risen to eight, while 38 workers remained trapped underground after rescue teams managed to evacuate 201 miners safely from the site.
A total of 247 workers were underground when the blast occurred at around 7:29 pm local time on Friday, according to official reports. Intensive rescue operations were continuing through Saturday morning as emergency crews searched for survivors.
Chinese local authorities said the cause of the accident was under investigation.
Coal mining accidents continue to pose safety challenges in China despite the tighter regulations introduced over recent decades.
Shanxi province, the country’s coal-mining capital, has witnessed multiple fatal mine accidents in recent years, mostly caused by gas leaks, explosions and safety lapses.
