China has largely reined in the human cost of industrial accidents during years of economic growth at breakneck pace. A shocking exception was last Friday’s gas explosion that killed at least 82 people at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province in central China, the country’s worst mining disaster in nearly two decades. President Xi Jinping’s call for a thorough investigation and accountability is necessary. He stressed that authorities must learn from the accident and intensify efforts to eliminate workplace risks.

It is imperative that they clarify reports of systemic safety failures across multiple parts of the production chain. It is important to know where miners are when underground and that they are equipped with safety and survival gear, yet there are reports that many worked in “hidden” coal pits and without location trackers or respirators.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that the official system logged just 124 workers entering the mine with personnel positioning cards, but checks found there were 247 underground. An experienced miner who had also been a safety officer said that hidden mine faces can compromise airflows designed to combat toxic gases.

The demand for coal remains strong, especially coking coal for steel production. Shanxi is China’s premier coking coal producer, and the Liushenyu mine is located in a core production hub.

State media reported that by the end of November, Shanxi had built around 370 intelligent mines equipped with 5G coverage and integrated intelligent systems, including automated coal-cutting machines and unstaffed vehicles. But the Liushenyu mine remained dependent on manual labour and was riddled with violations.

A day before the accident, provincial leaders considering Shanxi’s next five-year plan said the province would advance economic transformation. Governor Lu Dongliang said it would upgrade traditional industries and highlighted the need to tap sectors such as non-coal minerals, agriculture, culture, tourism and healthcare.