Gas explosion at Shanxi coal mine kills 8, traps 38

A gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China has killed at least eight people and trapped 38 others underground, according to state media reports. The blast occurred at 7:29 p.m. local time on Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Changzhi city, Shanxi province.

Official reports indicate that 247 workers were underground at the time of the explosion. By 6 a.m. Saturday, rescue teams had successfully brought 201 miners to the surface. Eight fatalities have been confirmed by local emergency management authorities, while operations continue to locate and extract the 38 individuals still trapped.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to rescue the missing and treat the injured. He also demanded a thorough investigation into the accident's cause, emphasizing that those responsible must be held accountable. In a statement reported by state media, he urged all regions and departments to draw lessons from the incident and remain vigilant regarding workplace safety to prevent major accidents.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Earlier reports noted that levels of carbon monoxide, a toxic gas, had exceeded safety limits at the mine, raising concerns...