China coal mine gas explosion leaves 82 dead

The coal mine accident in north China's Shanxi Province has left 82 people dead, according to the county's emergency management bureau, reported Xinhua.

All-out rescues are still underway to reach the two people who remained unaccounted for following a deadly coal mine accident in north China's Shanxi Province.

A gas explosion hit the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County of Changzhi City at 7:29 p.m. on Friday.

A total of 82 people were confirmed dead and two remained missing, said Chen Xiangyang, mayor of Changzhi, at a press conference held on Saturday night.

A total of 128 people were injured and are receiving treatment at hospitals, including two in critical condition and two in serious condition, according to Chen.

Officials at the press conference attributed the initial inaccurate figures to chaos at the scene and the company's failure to provide the accurate headcount of workers on duty.

The company involved in the explosion was found with "serious violations of laws" after an initial investigation. Those responsible for the company have been placed under control, and the company's coal mines have ceased production for a safety overhaul, said the mayor.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has urged all-out rescue of the missing and treatment of the injured and demanded a thorough investigation, with accountability pursued in accordance with the law.

Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has led a team to the site to oversee the rescue efforts and the handling of the accident's aftermath.

The province has sent 755 people including rescuers and medical personnel to the site. The Ministry of Emergency Management earlier said it had dispatched six national mine emergency rescue teams, totaling 345 people, to assist in rescue efforts.

On Saturday evening, multiple rescue teams are taking turns going down the shaft. Near the mine entrance, a professional rescue team had just risen from underground when another team stood ready to descend.

"As long as there is hope, we will make every possible effort," one rescuer told Xinhua.

Rescuers said the mission remained difficult due to cave-ins and flooding in the tunnels.

Officials at the press conference also said toxic and harmful gases under the mine shaft have exceeded safe limits for a long time, posing a risk of secondary disasters.

A doctor from Licheng County, about 130 km away from Qinyuan County, said they received the order at 4 a.m. and immediately rushed to the scene with equipment and medicine. Currently, together with other medical rescue teams, they remain on standby at the site.

"If any survivors are brought up, they will receive timely treatment without delay," the doctor said.

The National Health Commission has organized remote consultations by medical experts in Beijing. Respiratory, burning and orthopedic specialists from two Beijing hospitals have also been dispatched to the scene.

The 124 people with minor injuries have all been transferred to major hospitals for close observation and treatment. The severely and critically injured people are under tailored treatment developed by medical expert teams.

Several survivors recalled thick dust and deafening roars at the time of the accident. Many miners collapsed before they could even react.

"At first, I thought it was a routine blasting operation," said one survivor, Li Shibing. He did not realize it was a gas explosion until his coworker was overcome with dizziness. They immediately activated their portable self-rescue devices and fled the mine.

An investigation team sent by China's State Council has vowed to thoroughly and strictly investigate the accident.

In his instructions issued on Saturday, Xi stressed that authorities across the country must learn lessons from the accident, remain vigilant on workplace safety, and intensify efforts to identify and eliminate potential risks in order to prevent major accidents.

China's National Mine Safety Administration has instructed local authorities to implement a recently issued notice on enhancing training for coal mine workers and rooting out safety hazards.

The mine safety administration of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has sent special task forces to investigate all active high-gas mines and address potential violations such as inadequate gas drainage, operations under excessive gas concentrations, and falsification of monitoring data.

Southwest China's Yunnan Province has demanded that coal producers and supervision personnel maintain vigilance and carry out round-the-clock monitoring.