A gas explosion at a coal mine in China's Heilongjiang province has been captured on video, with the death toll climbing to 13 as rescue operations continue. The blast occurred on Wednesday at the Xinjing Coal Mine in Qitaihe city, a state-controlled facility operated by Longmay Group. The footage, verified by officials, shows a sudden burst of flame and debris at the mine entrance, followed by a plume of smoke.
The explosion is attributed to a gas build-up, a recurrent hazard in Chinese mines. Of the 48 workers underground at the time, 13 have been confirmed dead, 31 are injured, and four remain missing. The mine, which had passed safety inspections in September, was ordered to suspend operations pending an investigation.
China, the world's largest coal producer, has made strides in improving mine safety but still records dozens of fatal incidents annually. The Xinjing disaster is the deadliest since a blast in Guizhou province in March 2021 killed 16. Premier Li Qiang has ordered a full probe and called for stricter enforcement of safety regulations.
