Post by : Badri Ariffin

A devastating gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province has led to the loss of at least 90 lives, as reported by state media on Saturday. This incident is recognized as the most severe mining disaster in China since 2009.

The blast took place at 7:29 PM local time on Friday while 247 miners were working underground. Rescue operations managed to extract most individuals by Saturday morning; however, some workers are still unaccounted for. A total of 345 emergency responders have been deployed to the scene, conducting urgent searches for the nine remaining miners.

Footage from state broadcaster CCTV displayed rescuers in helmets transporting stretchers, with ambulances prepared at the scene. Preliminary evaluations revealed hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas, surpassing safe thresholds. Some trapped individuals were reported to be in precarious health.

President Xi Jinping has demanded comprehensive rescue operations and has initiated a thorough inquiry into the incident. He emphasized the urgent need to enhance workplace safety measures to avert such tragedies.

Officials disclosed that an individual accountable for mine operations has been apprehended for investigation.

Shanxi is a pivotal area in China’s coal industry. Despite advancements in mine safety protocols, incidents continue to occur, often due to lax safety oversight and ambiguous regulations.

This tragic event follows a 2009 incident in Heilongjiang province, where a mine explosion claimed 108 lives, making the recent event one of the most lethal in recent Chinese history.

#Global News #China #World Update #Global Updates