As of Monday, an explosion on May 22 in Qinyuan City in the northern Shanxi province — one of China’s most coal-dependent regions — has left 82 miners dead, two missing, and hospitalization of 128 others.

The mine blast, considered one of the most severe in the country in recent years, has been compounded by several safety issues stemming from inaccurate maps and a lack of personnel tracking systems, which help identify miners’ locations underground, according to domestic media.

Operated by the Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group, among the top 100 privately-owned mines in China, the Liushenyu Mine produces 1.2 million tons of coal annually. The explosion occurred at approximately 7:29 p.m., with 247 miners reported to be working below ground at the time.

Following the incident, over 750 rescue personnel and medical staff were mobilized, along with 86 ambulances.

Authorities have formed a national-level team to investigate the incident, and the mine’s operator is now under scrutiny. At a press conference on May 23, officials stated that those who operated the mine had engaged in “serious illegal activities,” but did not elaborate.

The main challenge to the rescue operation has been the absence of personnel-tracking systems and accurate underground maps. Methane and other toxic gases, fragile tunnels, and complex underground conditions such as water accumulation have also slowed access to the deeper sections of the mine.

Personnel locator cards — which provide miners’ real-time location information — are meant to help rescuers pinpoint the location of those trapped in emergencies. However, authorities announced that of the 247 miners working at the time of the explosion, only 103 were wearing their cards, hindering rescue efforts.

Inaccurate underground maps have also delayed rescue. Rescuers who returned to the surface reported that some underground locations were not marked on the maps provided, leaving them no choice but to conduct thorough searches of every tunnel.

Domestic media reported that these protocol breaches are likely the result of the mining company operating tunnels in areas not approved by local authorities.

Liang Jianwei, who was working in the same mine three kilometers away from where the blast occurred, told domestic media that he didn’t notice anything unusual at the time and did not receive an evacuation notice until 10 p.m. — roughly three hours after the accident happened.

When Liang evacuated, he discovered numerous colleagues unconscious and lying in the tunnel. The self-rescue oxygen device he was carrying ran out after only seven or eight minutes. Such devices should last for no fewer than 30 minutes, according to China’s Coal Mine Safety Regulations.

Public information indicates that the Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group was established in 2010 and was listed in 2024 among coal mines with inherently high geological risks that are vulnerable to major accidents. In 2025, Liushenyu Mine was administratively penalized twice for safety issues.

Editor: Marianne Gunnarsson.

(Header image: An aerial view of the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County, Shanxi province, May 23, 2026. VCG)