CHANGZHI, China — The death toll from a gas explosion at a coal mine in north China’s Shanxi has risen to 90, with nine others still missing, local authorities confirmed on Saturday.
The incident occurred at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County, Changzhi, at around 7:29 pm on Friday, when a total of 247 miners were underground at the time of the explosion.
Rescue officials said 201 workers had been safely brought to the surface as of 6:00 am on Saturday, while emergency operations were still ongoing to locate those unaccounted for.
According to the rescue headquarters, individuals in charge of the mining company have been taken into custody by law enforcement as investigations into the cause of the disaster continue.
Mining accidents remain a persistent safety concern in China despite years of regulatory tightening, particularly in coal-rich regions such as Shanxi Province, which is one of the country’s largest coal-producing areas.
Authorities are expected to carry out a full investigation into safety compliance, operational conditions, and potential negligence at the site as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
More reports from China Daily.
