A powerful gas explosion ripped through the Liushenyu Coal Mine in northern China late Friday, killing at least 82 miners with the death toll feared to climb as high as 90, according to state media reports on Saturday.

The blast occurred at approximately 7:29 p.m. local time (11:29 GMT) on May 22 at the mine, operated by the Tongzhou Group (also referred to as Shen Liao Shanxi Coal Mining Co., Ltd.) in Qinyuan County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province. At the time, 247 workers were underground.

Rescue teams have been working around the clock. By early Saturday, between 157 and 201 miners had been brought to the surface, with many suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning after levels of the toxic gas exceeded safety limits. More than 100 injured individuals have been hospitalized, and paramedics were seen carrying stretchers amid a fleet of ambulances at the site.

State broadcaster CCTV and Xinhua reported the confirmed death toll has risen sharply overnight to at least 82, with some accounts citing up to 90 fatalities and a small number of workers still missing. Six national rescue teams comprising 345 personnel have been deployed to support local efforts. Rescue operations continue under challenging conditions, with teams searching for any remaining survivors.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has demanded maximum efforts to treat the injured and search for survivors. He also ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident and for those responsible to be held accountable. Officials from the mining company have already been detained.

Shanxi Province is China’s leading coal-producing region, often called the country’s “coal capital.” While the industry has seen improved safety standards in recent years, fatal accidents still occur. This incident is among the deadliest in over a decade, surpassing a 2023 open-pit collapse in Inner Mongolia that killed 53.

China remains the world’s largest consumer of coal and top greenhouse gas emitter, even as it rapidly expands renewable energy capacity.

The exact cause of Friday’s gas explosion has not been officially determined, though preliminary reports point to elevated carbon monoxide levels. An official investigation is underway.

This tragedy highlights the persistent risks in China’s coal sector despite regulatory tightening since the deadly accidents of the early 2000s. Families of the victims await further updates as rescue work proceeds. (ILKHA)