Beijing, May 23, 2026: Chinese authorities said at least 82 people were killed in a coal mine explosion in northern China, revising an earlier death toll of 90, in what has become the country’s deadliest mining disaster in 17 years.
According to state media, the blast occurred at approximately 7:29 pm on Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi Province.
State broadcaster CCTV quoted Changzhi Mayor Chen Xiangyang as saying that 82 miners had been confirmed dead, while two workers remained missing. Another 128 people were injured and hospitalised.
Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that 247 workers were underground at the time of the explosion, with most of them brought safely to the surface by Saturday morning.
Authorities deployed 345 emergency personnel to the site as rescue teams continued intensive search operations for the missing workers.
The disaster is being described as China’s worst mining accident since 2009, when 108 miners were killed in an explosion in Heilongjiang Province.
Footage aired by CCTV showed helmeted rescue workers carrying stretchers at the disaster site while ambulances remained on standby nearby.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out efforts” to treat the injured and called for a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
According to Xinhua, Xi stressed that all regions and government departments must learn lessons from the tragedy, remain vigilant regarding workplace safety, and take stronger measures to prevent major industrial accidents.
Authorities also confirmed that a person “responsible for” the mining company involved had been taken into custody in accordance with Chinese law.
Initial reports from state media had indicated four deaths and dozens trapped underground after dangerous levels of carbon monoxide — a highly toxic and odourless gas — exceeded safety limits inside the mine.
