Coal Mine Gas Explosion in Shanxi Causes Heavy Casualties

Here is an introduction to the coal mine gas explosion accident in Qinyuan County, Shanxi Province, in English:

⛏️ The Qinyuan Coal Mine Gas Explosion

1. Basic Information
At 19:29 on May 22, 2026, a severe gas explosion occurred at the Liushenyu Coal Mine, which is operated by the Tongzhou Group in Qinyuan County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province. At the time of the accident, there were 247 miners working underground.

2. Casualties and Rescue Operations
As of 14:00 on May 23, the accident had resulted in a tragic death toll of 90 people. Following the explosion, underground search and rescue operations were launched immediately. By the afternoon of May 23, the search underground was basically concluded, and on-site efforts have transitioned to aftermath handling and victim support.

3. Emergency Response
Following the disaster, the Chinese central government and local authorities activated a major emergency response. President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang issued instructions demanding full efforts in rescuing trapped miners, treating the injured, and strictly investigating the cause of the accident. The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched 345 professional rescuers from six national mine emergency rescue teams to the site.

4. Investigation and Aftermath
The Liushenyu Coal Mine is officially classified as a "high-gas mine". The exact technical cause of the explosion is still under thorough investigation. Authorities have already taken legal control measures against the persons in charge of the enterprise involved. In response to this tragedy, the local government has ordered a province-wide safety overhaul and suspension of operations at similar high-risk coal mines to prevent future accidents.