23.05.2026 09:50
90 workers died in an explosion at a coal mine in Shanxi province, northern China.
In China's Shanxi province, 90 workers died in an explosion at a coal mine. Search and rescue operations for the trapped workers are ongoing.
247 MINERS WERE WORKING
According to Xinhua news agency, a gas-related explosion occurred in the morning at a coal mine in Qinyuan County, Changzhi City. In the mine, reported to have 247 workers, initial assessments indicate 90 workers lost their lives.
FEARS OF RISING DEATH TOLL
Search and rescue operations for the trapped workers continue, with concerns that the death toll may increase. The coal mine explosion is one of the deadliest mining accidents in China in recent years.
In 2023, 53 workers died in a collapse at an open-pit mine in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
INSTRUCTIONS FROM PRESIDENT XI
Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a statement, ordered mobilization for search and rescue efforts and treatment of the injured.
Xi, calling for the proper conduct of operations, urged a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the explosion and accountability for those responsible under the law.
Xi emphasized that all local governments and relevant units nationwide should learn from the incident and enhance workplace safety measures, highlighting the need to identify and eliminate potential risks to prevent major accidents.
The investigation into the accident continues.
In China, although the number of accidents at coal mine operations with aging infrastructure and inadequate safety regulations has decreased in recent years due to increased inspections, incidents still occur occasionally.