The aftermath of China’s most severe mine disaster in 17 years saw a revised death toll of 82 individuals, as announced by local officials during a late Saturday news conference. The fatalities resulted from a gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province on Friday evening, initially reported by state media to have claimed at least 90 lives. Despite the lower figure, this incident stands as China’s deadliest mining tragedy since 2009, when 108 people perished in a gas explosion at the Xinxing Mine in Heilongjiang province.
During the press conference, local officials explained that the initial death count provided by state media was inaccurately tallied due to the chaotic scene following the incident, with uncertainties surrounding the number of workers present at the mine. Guo Xiaofang, the head of Shanxi’s Qinyuan county where the mine is situated, highlighted the confusion that led to the initial error in the death toll.
At the time of the explosion, there were 247 workers underground, with two individuals still unaccounted for. Among those affected, 128 were hospitalized for injuries while 35 escaped unharmed. All four mines owned by the Liushenyu mine’s parent company, Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group, have been shut down, and company executives have been detained as per local officials.
In response to the tragic incident, the People’s Daily, a state-run newspaper, emphasized the need for heightened safety measures in production, urging a shift away from prioritizing development over safety. President Xi Jinping expressed the directive for authorities to spare no efforts in aiding the injured, conducting search and rescue operations, and initiating an investigation into the accident.
Officials revealed that the Liushenyu mine has an annual coal production capacity of 1.1 million tonnes, contributing to China’s significant coal mining output, which plays a crucial role in the nation’s power sector.
