The tragic gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, China, has led to a revised death toll of 82, as announced by local officials. Initially, reports indicated at least 90 fatalities, but the number was adjusted following a chaotic aftermath and an unclear count of workers.

Details of the Incident

The explosion occurred late on Friday, with 247 workers underground at the time. Two individuals remain unaccounted for, while 128 have been hospitalized due to injuries, and 35 escaped unscathed. This incident marks the deadliest mining accident in China since 2009, when a similar explosion claimed 108 lives in Heilongjiang province.

The Liushenyu mine, owned by Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group, has now ceased operations across all its four mines, and company executives have been detained as investigations continue. The mine has a significant production capacity of 1.2 million tons of coal annually, contributing to China’s extensive coal mining industry, which produced 4.83 billion tons last year.

Government Response

In response to the disaster, President Xi Jinping has urged authorities to prioritize the treatment of the injured and to conduct thorough search and rescue operations. An investigation into the incident has been ordered to prevent future occurrences. The state-run newspaper, the People’s Daily, has called for enhanced safety measures in production to prevent prioritizing development over safety.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.