China coal mine blast death toll rises to at least 82

BEIJING: The death toll from a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China’s Shanxi province has risen sharply to at least 82, state media reported on Saturday, in one of the country’s deadliest mining accidents in years.

Nine people remain missing after the blast at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county, where 247 workers were on duty underground at the time of the explosion late Friday, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Rescue operations were continuing as emergency teams searched for survivors, while authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the incident.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered officials to “spare no effort” in treating the injured and speeding up rescue efforts, while also calling for a full investigation and strict accountability for those responsible.

Premier Li Qiang also directed authorities to ensure timely and transparent reporting of information and emphasized the need for rigorous accountability measures, Xinhua said.

Local emergency management authorities in Qinyuan said the cause of the gas explosion remained under investigation.

Earlier reports had put the death toll at eight, with more than 200 miners rescued, but officials later confirmed a significant rise in fatalities, without explaining the discrepancy.

Executives of the company operating the mine have been detained, according to Xinhua.

China has made major efforts to improve mine safety over the past two decades, significantly reducing fatalities through tighter regulations and enforcement. However, accidents involving gas explosions and flooding continue to occur, particularly in older mining facilities.

The Liushenyu blast is among the deadliest mining disasters reported in the country in recent years.