Hidden tunnels, fake doors: China probes mining tragedy that killed 82 https://t.co/MbML70F7B4
— The Straits Times (@straits_times) May 26, 2026
BEIJING, May 26 – Unmarked tunnels, missing trackers and fake doors have been uncovered during an initial probe into the deadliest mining tragedy in China in over 15 years, with the government vowing to leave no stone unturned, state media reported on Tuesday.
At least 82 people were killed by a gas explosion late on Friday at the Liushenyu mine in the coal-rich province of Shanxi in northern China. Two remained unaccounted for with a further 128 hospitalised, state media said.
The blast is the deadliest mining accident in China since 2009, when a gas explosion at the Xinxing Mine in Heilongjiang province killed 108 people.
Authorities say the cause of the disaster is still under investigation, but initial findings show Tongzhou Group, the company operating the privately-owned coal mine had committed “serious illegal violations”.
China’s state media reported that the people running Tongzhou Group have been put under “control measures”, though it’s unclear what that means. The company has also been ordered to halt work at all four coal mines it currently operates in Shanxi province.