China Coal Mine Blast Kills at Least 90 in Deadliest Mining Disaster in 17 Years

A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, China, killed at least 90 people on May 22, 2026 at 7:29pm, marking China's biggest mining disaster in 17 years. Carbon monoxide levels exceeded limits during the blast. The mine is operated by Shanxi Tongzhou Group Liushenyu Coal Industry. 123 people were hospitalized, with rescue efforts ongoing and more people still missing as of May 23, 2026.

Liushenyu mine explosion

• ▪Shanxi Tongzhou Group Liushenyu Coal Industry is controlled by Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group
• ▪The Liushenyu coal mine is operated by Shanxi Tongzhou Group Liushenyu Coal Industry, which was established in 2010
• ▪Carbon monoxide levels in the Liushenyu coal mine exceeded limits during the May 22, 2026 explosion
• ▪A gas explosion occurred at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, China, at 7:29pm on May 22, 2026

Death toll

• ▪Four people injured in the May 22, 2026 Liushenyu coal mine explosion were in critical or severe condition
• ▪123 people were sent to hospital for treatment following the May 22, 2026 Liushenyu coal mine explosion
• ▪The May 22, 2026 Liushenyu coal mine explosion is China's biggest mining disaster in 17 years
• ▪33 people treated for injuries from the May 22, 2026 Liushenyu coal mine explosion had returned home as of 2:00pm on May 23, 2026

Rescue operations

• ▪Rescue efforts at the Liushenyu coal mine explosion site were still ongoing on the afternoon of May 23, 2026
• ▪A total of 755 emergency and medical personnel were dispatched to the Liushenyu coal mine explosion site
• ▪Wang Yong fainted during the May 22, 2026 Liushenyu coal mine explosion, woke up after about an hour, and escaped the mine with others
• ▪Wang Yong, a survivor of the May 22, 2026 Liushenyu coal mine explosion, reported smelling sulphur and seeing a puff of smoke

Government response

• ▪A person responsible for the company involved in the May 22, 2026 Liushenyu coal mine explosion has been placed under control in accordance with the law
• ▪Premier Li Qiang called for timely and accurate release of information and rigorous accountability regarding the May 22, 2026 Liushenyu coal mine explosion
• ▪President Xi Jinping emphasized that all regions and departments must draw lessons from the May 22, 2026 Liushenyu coal mine explosion and remain constantly vigilant regarding workplace safety
• ▪President Xi Jinping urged all-out efforts to treat the injured from the May 22, 2026 Liushenyu coal mine explosion and called for thorough investigations into the incident

China mining safety record

• ▪A collapse at an open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia, China, killed 53 people in 2023
• ▪An explosion at a mine in Heilongjiang province, China, killed more than 100 people in 2009

International condolences

• ▪President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan expressed profound grief and sorrow over the May 22, 2026 Liushenyu coal mine explosion
• ▪President Asif Ali Zardari conveyed condolences and sympathies to the Chinese president, the bereaved families, and the people of China over the May 22, 2026 Liushenyu coal mine explosion