Rescuers are currently engaged in an all-out effort to locate two missing miners following a tragic gas explosion at a coal mine in north China's Shanxi Province.
The incident occurred at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County at 7:29 p.m. on Friday. According to Chen Xiangyang, the mayor of Changzhi, 82 people have been confirmed dead, while two others remain unaccounted for.
The scale of the rescue operation is significant, with 755 personnel, including specialized rescuers and medical teams, deployed to the site. The Ministry of Emergency Management has further bolstered these efforts by dispatching six national mine emergency rescue teams, comprising 345 experts. As of Sunday morning, reconnaissance robots have been deployed to expand the search area and navigate hazardous zones.
Medical facilities are currently treating 128 injured individuals, with four reported to be in serious or critical condition. Officials noted that initial reports on casualty figures were inconsistent due to chaos at the scene and the operating company's failure to maintain an accurate headcount of workers on duty.
The operation faces severe challenges, as toxic and harmful gases beneath the mine shaft have remained above safe limits for an extended period, increasing the risk of secondary disasters.
In the wake of the accident, investigations revealed that the company involved committed "serious violations of laws." Consequently, those responsible for the mine's operation have been placed under control. All production at the company's mines has been suspended to allow for a comprehensive safety overhaul, emphasizing the priority of worker safety and regulatory compliance in the region's industrial sector.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
