Gas explosion at China coal mine kills at least 82 workers

BEIJING — At least 82 people were killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China’s Shanxi province, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua on Saturday.The blast occurred Friday evening at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county while 247 workers were underground at the time of the incident.Emergency response teams remain deployed at the site as rescue operations continue for missing workers and authorities assess the full scale of the disaster.Chinese authorities have also launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion.Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all-out rescue efforts for those still trapped or missing and ordered immediate medical treatment for the injured.Xi also instructed authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the disaster and ensure accountability in accordance with the law.He urged officials across the country to learn lessons from the incident, strengthen workplace safety supervision and intensify efforts to eliminate hidden risks to prevent similar accidents.Chinese Premier Li Qiang directed officials to improve rescue coordination and ordered broader safety inspections across key industries.Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was dispatched to the site to oversee emergency response and recovery efforts.China’s mining sector has long faced safety challenges despite repeated government efforts to tighten regulations and reduce industrial accidents.