Xi Jinping orders all-out rescue after deadly China mine blast kills 8, traps 38

Xi Jinping ordered all-out rescue efforts after a gas explosion at a Shanxi coal mine killed eight people and left 38 trapped underground. The directive was accompanied by orders for a thorough investigation, legal accountability and timely release of information.

In Short

• Explosion struck Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county late on Friday
• At the time, 247 workers were on duty underground, Xinhua reported
• By early Saturday, 201 miners had been brought safely to surface

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out rescue efforts after a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China's Shanxi province killed eight people and left 38 trapped underground, state media reported on Saturday.

The gas explosion occurred late Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county, with 247 workers on duty underground, state media Xinhua reported.

Xi called for authorities to "spare no effort" in treating the injured and conducting search and rescue operations, while ordering a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident and strict accountability in accordance with the law.

Premier Li Qiang echoed the instructions, calling for timely and accurate release of information and rigorous accountability.

By early Saturday, 201 people had been brought to the surface, along with the eight dead, and rescue operations were ongoing and the cause of the accident was under investigation, according to local emergency management authority at Qinyuan.

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