Fraudster trying to sell fake ancient statues to Sotheby’s foiled over bogus invoices
Fraudster caught trying to sell fake ancient statues to Sotheby’s over bogus invoices.
The Guardian World1 min read
Gas explosion at Chinese coal mine kills at least 90
TL;DR
A gas explosion at a coal mine in Shanxi province, China, has killed at least 90 people. The incident occurred while 247 workers were on duty, marking the deadliest mining disaster in over a decade.
Key points
- Gas explosion at Liushenyu mine in Shanxi province
- At least 90 people killed in the incident
- 247 workers were on duty underground during the blast
- Rescue operations are ongoing for potential survivors
- Incident marks the deadliest mining disaster in over a decade
Mentioned in this story
Shanxi provinceXinhua
Liushenyu mine
A gas explosion at a coal mine in China has killed at least 90 people.
State media Xinhua said 247 workers had been on duty underground when the blast ripped through the Liushenyu mine in Qinyuan county, Shanxi province, on Friday.
China’s coal mines are considered among the deadliest in the world due to poor safety standards, weak regulation, and corruption as companies seek to profit from the country’s rapidly expanding economy.
Rescue operations were ongoing as emergency crews continued searching for survivors of the explosion, the deadliest mining disaster reported in China in more than a decade.
The blast occurred shortly after a carbon monoxide alert was issued, with some reports claiming gas levels had exceeded safe limits.
According to state-run broadcaster CGTN, the person responsible for overseeing the mine has been arrested while authorities investigate the cause of the explosion.
President Xi Jinping has urged authorities across China to intensify efforts to prevent major accidents in the wake of Friday’s blast.
“All regions and departments must learn from the lessons of the accident, remain vigilant regarding workplace safety, thoroughly investigate, rectify all types of risks and hidden dangers, and resolutely prevent and curb the occurrence of major and serious accidents,” Xi said.
Video footage posted online from the scene showed several ambulances gathered near the mine.
Shanxi province, where the incident occurred, is China’s main coal-mining region. More than one billion tonnes of coal were extracted there last year, almost a third of the country’s total output.
China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal, accounting for more than half of global consumption.
The country is also the world’s largest annual greenhouse gas emitter, while being the biggest producer of renewable energy.
Q&A
What caused the gas explosion at the coal mine in China?
The explosion occurred shortly after a carbon monoxide alert was issued, with reports indicating that gas levels had exceeded safe limits.
How many workers were on duty during the coal mine explosion in Shanxi?
There were 247 workers on duty underground at the time of the explosion.
What are the safety conditions of coal mines in China?
China's coal mines are among the deadliest in the world, attributed to poor safety standards, weak regulation, and corruption.
