A coal mine in China experienced a deadly gas explosion that resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals and left 38 miners trapped underground, as per reports from state media on Saturday.
The incident occurred at Liushenyu coal mine in Changzhi city, located in the northern province of Shanxi, on Friday evening. The official news agency Xinhua disclosed that approximately 247 workers were inside the mine during the explosion, with 201 individuals successfully rescued by early Saturday.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the explosion, as reported by Xinhua. Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged for a comprehensive rescue operation for the missing miners and a thorough inquiry into the factors behind the accident, with a focus on holding those responsible accountable.
Shanxi province, recognized as China’s primary coal mining region, has a substantial workforce involved in coal extraction activities. With a population of around 34 million, the province’s miners extracted approximately 1.3 billion tons (1.17 billion metric tons) of coal last year, contributing to nearly a third of China’s total coal production.
