Executives detained after China coal mine blast kills at least 82 | ABC NEWS

Added: 2026-05-24

[00:00:00]The province where this disaster has happened, Shanxi, is China's coal mining heartland. It was about 7:30 on Friday evening when the explosion ripped through the Liushunyu coal mine, about 520 km southwest of Beijing, after what was reported to be excessive levels of carbon monoxide detected. About 250 people were underground at the time. A massive search and rescue mission was launched. Hundreds deployed to the coal mine area. Unfortunately, so many were found dead. Several people remain in hospital in a critical condition.

[00:00:36]According to China's state media, President Xi Jinping has ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident and accountability in accordance with the law. State media are also reporting executives of the company responsible for the coal mine have been detained for questioning. China does have a long history of safety incidents at coal mines, but in the last decade, safety standards have been tightened dramatically and enforced. This explosion is China's worst coal mine-related disaster in 15 years.