Jakarta, ThedailyID — A massive gas explosion at a coal mine in China killed at least 90 workers on Friday night, May 22, 2026, making it one of the country’s deadliest mining disasters in years.
According to Reuters, the explosion struck the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County, Shanxi Province, around 7:29 p.m. local time while 247 workers were underground.
Chinese state media reported that rescue teams managed to evacuate more than 200 workers by Saturday morning. However, dozens of miners died following the blast, while several others remained missing during ongoing rescue operations.
Authorities suspect gas accumulation inside the underground mining area triggered the explosion, although investigators continue examining the exact cause.
According to Reuters, the disaster became China’s worst mining accident in more than a decade and immediately raised concerns over industrial safety standards in the country’s coal sector.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered authorities to maximize rescue operations and strengthen workplace safety inspections following the tragedy.
Meanwhile, local authorities reportedly detained several individuals responsible for supervising the mining operations as investigations continue.
The explosion also caused severe structural damage inside the mining facility, forcing emergency teams to work carefully during search efforts.
Mining accidents remain a recurring issue in China despite tighter regulations introduced in recent years to improve worker safety and operational oversight.
