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BBC at the site of China's worst mining disaster in more than a decade

At least 82 people have been killed after a gas explosion at the Liushenyu mine in China.

Published May 24, 2026, 10:34 AM
Updated May 24, 2026, 11:14 AM3.0K
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BBC at the site of China's worst mining disaster in more than a decade

At least 82 people have been killed and two are missing after a coal mine blast in northern China, officials have said.

The gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine is the worst mining disaster in China since 2009, and Chinese President Xi Jinping said no effort must be spared in the search and rescue operation.

Early on Sunday morning, rescuers deployed mine inspection robots underground, equipped with gas sensors and infrared cameras, state media reported.

The BBC's China correspondent Stephen McDonell is at the scene of the blast in Shanxi province.

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