A gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China has killed at least 90 people, according to state broadcaster reports, with dozens more injured and a small number still unaccounted for.
The incident occurred late Friday night at the Liushenyu coal mine near Changzhi City in Shanxi Province, when approximately 247 miners were working underground.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, the blast is believed to have been triggered by dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, which had reportedly exceeded safety thresholds inside the mine. Rescue officials said nine workers were still trapped underground as of Saturday afternoon, while intensive search-and-rescue operations continue.
State broadcaster China Central Television reported that many of the injured suffered from toxic gas exposure. Earlier reports suggested a lower death toll, but figures were later revised upward as recovery efforts progressed.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered authorities to “spare no effort” in treating the injured and carrying out rescue operations, while also calling for a full investigation and strict accountability for the disaster.
Officials have detained executives linked to the mine’s operator, the Shanxi Tongzhou Coal & Coke Group. The Liushenyu mine had previously been flagged by China’s national mine safety regulator in 2024 as a high-risk site due to elevated gas levels, it reported.
The mine, which has an annual production capacity of around 1.2 million tons, is located in Shanxi, China’s largest coal-producing region, where mining accidents remain a persistent safety concern.
Authorities say investigations into the cause of the explosion are ongoing.
