China mine blast death toll rises to 82, several still missing

Beijing: The death toll from a devastating coal mine explosion in northern China has risen sharply to 82, with nine miners still missing, according to Chinese state media on Saturday.

The blast took place on Friday evening at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Changzhi city, located in Shanxi Province, one of the country’s largest coal-producing regions.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that rescue teams recovered more bodies overnight as emergency operations continued at the site.

The explosion occurred while 247 workers were underground, according to state news agency Xinhua. By early Saturday, 201 miners had been safely brought to the surface.

Authorities said the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered “all-out efforts” to rescue those still missing and called for a full investigation into the disaster. He also urged officials to hold those responsible accountable, Xinhua reported.

Shanxi province, often described as China’s coal-mining heartland, produces nearly one-third of the country’s total coal output. The province, home to around 34 million people, extracted roughly 1.3 billion tons of coal last year through its vast mining industry.

Despite improvements in mine safety standards over recent decades, fatal accidents continue to occur in China’s coal sector, often raising concerns over working conditions and the enforcement of safety regulations.