- Explosion at Liushenyu Coal Mine kills 82 workers, with two miners still missing.
- Investigation reveals major safety breaches and unregistered underground workers.
- Authorities suspend all Tongzhou Group mining operations and detain company executives.
Chinese authorities have launched a sweeping investigation into one of the country’s deadliest mining disasters in more than a decade after a gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi province claimed 82 lives.
The explosion occurred at 19:29 local time on Friday, 22 May 2026, while 247 workers were underground at the mine operated by Tongzhou Group. Authorities initially reported 90 fatalities, but later revised the figure to 82 following what officials described as confusion during the early stages of the emergency response.
Two workers remain missing as rescue teams continue to search unstable underground tunnels using robotic inspection systems equipped with gas sensors and infrared cameras.
A further 128 workers were hospitalised, with most suffering from carbon monoxide inhalation following the blast.
Preliminary findings from the official investigation point to extensive safety violations by the mine operator. Chinese state media reported that more than half of the underground workforce had entered the mine without completing mandatory facial recognition registration or carrying required tracking cards.
Investigators also discovered that underground mine maps supplied by the company did not accurately reflect actual tunnel conditions, significantly hampering initial rescue operations.
The Liushenyu mine had previously been identified by China’s National Mine Safety Administration as a severe safety hazard in 2024 and reportedly received multiple administrative penalties during 2025 for ongoing safety non-compliance.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and the State Council ordered a comprehensive investigation into the disaster, pledging severe punishment for those found responsible.
Local authorities have detained several company executives, while all four mines operated by Tongzhou Group have been ordered to suspend operations pending the outcome of the investigation.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
