China has revised the death toll from the gas explosion at the Liu Shen Yu coal mine in Shanxi Province to at least 82, down from the previous figure of 90 deaths. Two people remain missing. Chinese authorities have mobilized hundreds of rescue workers and deployed underground robots to search for survivors, amid growing questions about the mine's safety standards.
Chinese officials reported that a major gas explosion occurred inside the Liu Shen Yu coal mine in Shanxi Province at 19:29 local time on Friday, 22 May 2024 GMT+7. The incident has resulted in at least 82 deaths, with two people still missing. At the time of the explosion, 247 workers were underground, over 100 of whom have already been rescued.
Earlier, authorities had reported the death toll as 90 before revising the number downward on Saturday evening, apologizing for the confusion. They explained that the chaotic situation at the onset caused inaccuracies in counting the victims.
Local media reports indicate that 128 people injured are currently hospitalized, including two in critical condition. Most patients suffered from inhalation of toxic gases. Although the exact gas type remains uncertain, reports confirm a significantly elevated level of carbon monoxide, a colorless poisonous gas, exceeding safety standards.
Wang Yong, a mine worker who survived and is currently receiving treatment, described the harrowing moments: “I didn’t hear the explosion but saw smoke rising immediately. I smelled sulfur like during a rock blast and shouted for everyone to run. While running, I saw people collapsing from smoke inhalation. Then I lost consciousness. I was unconscious there for more than an hour. When I woke up, I quickly woke the person beside me and we escaped.”
Early Sunday morning, rescue teams deployed an "underground mine inspection robot" equipped with gas sensors and infrared cameras into hazardous underground zones inaccessible to humans. The robot is gathering data and searching for signs of life among potential survivors.
China's Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched 345 expert personnel from six rescue teams to participate in the operation. However, efforts are hampered by flooding near the explosion site, blocking some access routes. Additionally, the mine's blueprint provided by management does not match the current site layout. Some mine management team members have been detained, with the Chinese cabinet vowing a thorough investigation and strict punishment for those responsible.
Records show that the Liu Shen Yu coal mine is operated by Dongzhou Group, which was blacklisted by China's National Mine Safety Administration in 2024 as one of the mines posing "severe safety risks." Furthermore, the company faced two administrative penalties in 2025 related to safety violations.
Shanxi Province is one of China's largest coal-producing regions, accounting for over a quarter of the country's total output. This tragedy highlights the dark history of China's coal mining industry in the early 2000s, marked by frequent fatal accidents. Although recent years have seen authorities tighten safety standards and crack down on illegal mines, accidents persist, including a 2023 mine collapse in Inner Mongolia that killed 53 and a 2009 explosion in Heilongjiang Province that claimed over 100 lives.
China remains the world's largest consumer of coal and emitter of greenhouse gases, despite rapidly expanding renewable energy installations at record speeds. This disaster occurred just days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin completed official visits to China.
, BBC