A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Changzhi, Shanxi province, killed dozens of workers Friday evening [1], [2].

The disaster marks one of the deadliest mining accidents in northern China in years, raising urgent questions about safety protocols in the region's coal industry.

Reports on the death toll vary. Some sources said at least 90 people died [2], [3], while others report 82 fatalities [1], [5]. One report listed the death toll as eight [6].

Rescue teams are currently working to locate survivors. According to one report, 247 workers remain trapped underground [1], though another source listed the number of trapped workers as 38 [6]. The blast was caused by a buildup of gas, likely methane, which ignited and triggered the explosion [2], [3].

President Xi Jinping responded to the crisis by calling for a comprehensive rescue effort. "We must spare no effort in treating the injured and conducting search-and-rescue operations," Xi said [2].

State news agency Xinhua confirmed the accident occurred on Friday evening [1]. Xi also addressed the potential for negligence regarding the disaster. "We will hold those responsible to account," Xi said [4].

The Liushenyu mine is located in Changzhi city, a hub for coal production in Shanxi province [1], [2]. Emergency crews continue to operate at the site to extract the remaining workers from the mine shafts.

“"We must spare no effort in treating the injured and conducting search-and-rescue operations."”

The discrepancy in casualty and entrapment numbers suggests a chaotic early reporting phase or a staggered release of information by state authorities. The scale of the disaster, with reports of up to 90 deaths, underscores the persistent danger of methane buildup in Shanxi's aging mining infrastructure and may lead to a renewed crackdown on safety violations across China's energy sector.