It's been a heartbreaking weekend in north China as rescue teams fight against the clock. Following a devastating gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County, Shanxi Province, the search is still on for two missing miners. 💔
The accident struck on Friday evening at 7:29 p.m., leaving the community in shock. According to Chen Xiangyang, the mayor of Changzhi, the tragedy has claimed 82 lives, while 128 others are currently receiving medical treatment. Of those injured, two remain in critical condition and two in serious condition.
The scale of the rescue operation is massive. 🚁 The province has deployed 755 personnel, including specialized rescuers and medical staff. To back them up, the Ministry of Emergency Management sent six national mine emergency rescue teams—about 345 experts—to the site. To reach the unreachable, reconnaissance robots were deployed on Sunday morning to expand the search range. 🤖✨
It hasn't been an easy mission. Toxic and harmful gases inside the mine shaft have stayed above safe limits for a long time, meaning rescuers are facing the constant threat of secondary disasters. There was also some initial confusion regarding the casualty numbers, which officials attributed to the chaos at the scene and the company's failure to provide an accurate headcount of the workers on duty.
But there is a strong push for justice and safety. Investigations revealed that the company involved committed "serious violations of laws." As a result, those in charge have been detained, and all production at the mine has stopped for a complete safety overhaul. 🛑
Our hearts go out to the victims and their families during this incredibly difficult time. We are keeping our fingers crossed for the two miners still missing. 🌍🙏
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
