Chinese authorities have uncovered “hidden tunnels, fake doors, and missing tracking systems” during an investigation into a deadly coal mine explosion that killed at least 82 people in Shanxi province, state media reported on Tuesday.
The findings are part of an expanding probe into the Liushenyu coal mine disaster, now regarded as one of China’s worst mining accidents in more than a decade.
Deadly explosion in Shanxi mine
The blast occurred late on Friday in the Liushenyu mine, located in China’s coal-rich northern Shanxi province, while 247 workers were underground. At least 82 miners were killed, 128 were hospitalized with injuries, and two others remain missing, according to state media reports.
Rescue teams, supported by hundreds of emergency workers, were deployed immediately, but operations were complicated by toxic gases, damaged tunnels, and inaccurate mine blueprints that did not match the actual underground layout.
Evidence of hidden infrastructure
Preliminary findings from investigators have raised serious concerns about the mine’s internal structure and safety practices.
According to state media, inspectors discovered:
- Unmarked or “hidden” tunnels that were not recorded in official maps
- Fake or concealed doors inside underground passages
- Malfunctioning or missing worker tracking systems
- Evidence suggesting deliberate attempts to obscure parts of the mine layout
These irregularities are now central to the investigation into whether safety violations contributed to the scale of the disaster.
Officials have not yet confirmed how these structures affected the explosion, but investigators say they may have complicated evacuation efforts and delayed rescue operations.
Safety violations under scrutiny
Chinese authorities have already indicated that the mine operator, Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Group, may have committed “serious illegal violations,” including lapses in safety monitoring and emergency preparedness.
Several company officials have been detained as part of the investigation, and broader inspections have been launched across coal mines in Shanxi province, a region responsible for a significant portion of China’s coal output.
Government response
President Xi Jinping has ordered a full investigation into the incident and called for “all-out rescue efforts” and strict accountability for those responsible. Senior officials have also emphasized the need to strengthen safety enforcement in the mining sector.
The State Council has dispatched a special investigative team to the site, and regulators are reviewing whether similar structural violations exist in other mines across the country.
A pattern of mining disasters
China has made significant improvements in mining safety over the past two decades, but fatal accidents remain a recurring issue, particularly in coal-rich regions where production pressure remains high.
The Shanxi blast is the deadliest mining accident in China since 2009, when a coal mine explosion killed more than 100 workers in Heilongjiang province.
Experts say underground coal mining remains especially dangerous due to methane gas buildup, coal dust explosions, and structural instability.
Investigation continues
Authorities say the probe is ongoing and more details are expected in the coming days. Rescue teams are still searching for the two missing miners while hospitals continue treating survivors suffering from gas inhalation injuries.
Officials have pledged transparency and accountability as pressure mounts to determine how such extensive safety breaches went undetected.
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