Chinese coal mine explosion: At least 82 killed.

A particularly serious gas explosion at a coal mine in Shanxi province, northern China, on the evening of May 22nd killed at least 82 people, becoming one of the country's most serious industrial disasters in years.

Coal mining in China. Photo: THX

The accident occurred at a coal mine in Tam Nguyen County, stemming from a gas explosion underground while a total of 247 workers were present. Prior to the incident, the concentration of toxic carbon monoxide in the area had been determined to exceed safe levels.

Initially, local authorities reported only 8 deaths and dozens of people trapped. However, by noon on May 23, the death toll had skyrocketed to 82, while 9 missing workers were still being urgently searched for by rescue teams.

Images released by China Central Television (CCTV) show numerous rescue workers continuously carrying stretchers out of the mine area amidst a series of ambulances waiting outside.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “every effort” to be made to rescue those still trapped, and ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the accident and the holding of those responsible accountable.

According to Chinese media, authorities have detained a mining company employee for questioning.
Shanxi Province is considered China's "coal capital," producing nearly one-third of the country's total coal output. Although workplace safety has improved in recent years, serious accidents are still frequent in China's mining industry due to lax safety procedures and intense production pressure. In 2023, an open-pit coal mine collapse in Inner Mongolia killed 53 people. Prior to that, a coal mine explosion in Heilongjiang Province in 2009 claimed the lives of over 100 people.

THANH PHUONG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/no-mo-than-trung-quoc-it-nhat-82-nguoi-thiet-mang-a205304.html