Gas blast at coal mine in Changzhi, Shanxi province, confirms 90 deaths

2026-05-23

A gas explosion occurred at a coal mine in Changzhi, Shanxi province, China, on the night of the 22nd, and the deaths of 90 workers and others have so far been confirmed. President Xi Jinping ordered that treatment for the injured and the search for the missing be accelerated, while also calling for the cause of the accident to be identified and those responsible held to account.

Accident at Liushenyu coal mine

The accident occurred at Liushenyu coal mine, operated by a subsidiary of the privately held Shanxi Tongzhou Coal and Coke Group. About 250 people were working underground at the time, according to the report. In response, executives at the mine operator were taken into custody.

Safety lapses cited

According to Chinese media outlet Caixin, the operating company was subject to administrative penalties twice in 2025. The reasons cited included workers entering the mine without wearing the work clothes required under safety rules, and inadequate safety measures for underground equipment.

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