YANCHUAN: As many as eleven coal mine workers were killed when an explosion occurred inside a coal mine in Yanchuan County, located in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, confirmed by authorities on Tuesday.
Among the 90 individuals present in the mine during the time of the blast, two succumbed to the explosion despite resuscitation efforts. Additionally, nine individuals who were trapped below ground have been located, but unfortunately, they were dead.
China Coal Mine Incidents History
This catastrophe is the latest in a series of unfortunate events that have rocked China’s perilous coal industry. In December 2020, a carbon monoxide leak claimed the lives of 23 miners, while a subsequent blast at a gold mine in Shandong province resulted in the tragic death of 10 miners in January 2021.
In 2019, a collapsed coal mine roof in China’s northwestern Shaanxi province led to the death of 21 miners. This tragedy unfolded in the Kijiagou mine situated in Shenmu City. While initial rescue operations managed to save 61 miners, the remaining 21 were trapped underground and were later discovered lifeless.
China’s mining sector, encompassing coal and various other minerals, has gained notoriety for its distressing frequency of accidents and a concerning lack of rigorous safety enforcement. In 2017 alone, the country had reported 375 casualties as a result of coal mine mishaps.
One of the most harrowing incidents dates back to 2009 when an explosion trapped over 430 miners in Shanxi province. A dedicated eight-day rescue mission managed to save 115 coal miners, although many suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning, while an unfortunate 74 individuals lost their lives in the tragic occurrence.
