Shanxi coal mine blast kills 82: South Korea's Lee Jae Myung condoles China
Synopsis
At least 82 people were killed in a gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in China's Shanxi Province on Friday — prompting formal condolences from both South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi within 48 hours. The disaster is one of the deadliest mining incidents in China in recent memory and reignites scrutiny of the country's coal safety record.
Key Takeaways
A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi Province, China killed at least 82 people on Friday .
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung expressed condolences on Sunday via a post on X , also written in Chinese.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed condolences to President Xi Jinping on Saturday , also via X .
Earlier in 2025 , three workers were trapped in a separate tunnel collapse at a mine in Shaanxi Province's Zhenping County .
Deadly accidents remain frequent in China's coal sector despite tightened safety standards in recent years.
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday, 25 May 2025 extended condolences to China over a deadly gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi Province, which killed at least 82 people on Friday. Lee expressed hope that Chinese authorities would swiftly bring the situation under control and wished a full recovery to those injured.
Lee's Message of Condolence
'I pray for the souls of those who lost their lives in the tragic accident, and express my deep condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families and to the people of China,' Lee wrote on social media platform X. He also posted the message in Chinese, according to reports.
The South Korean President called on the Chinese government and relevant authorities to act swiftly, and conveyed his wishes for the speedy recovery of all injured survivors.
India Also Extends Condolences
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping over the tragedy. 'Saddened by the loss of lives in a mining accident in China's Shanxi Province. On behalf of the people of India, my condolences to President Xi Jinping and the people of China. May the bereaved families find strength in this tragic hour. Praying for the early and safe recovery of all remaining missing persons,' Modi wrote on X.
What Happened at Liushenyu Mine
A gas explosion struck the Liushenyu coal mine in northern China's Shanxi Province on Friday, killing at least 82 people, according to media reports. The scale of the disaster has drawn international attention, with multiple heads of state offering formal condolences within days of the incident.
China's Coal Mining Safety Record
Deadly accidents remain a recurring challenge in China's coal mining sector. Safety regulations have been progressively tightened in recent years, yet fatalities continue. Notably, earlier in 2025, three workers were trapped after an underground tunnel collapsed at a coal mine in Zhenping County, Ankang city, in Shaanxi Province — a separate incident in which eight workers had been carrying out rectification work when the collapse occurred, with five escaping safely.
The Liushenyu blast is among the deadliest mining incidents in China in recent memory, and is likely to renew calls for stricter enforcement of existing safety norms across the country's coal-dependent energy sector.
Point of View
And via public X posts rather than diplomatic cables — signals how coal mine disasters in China have become geopolitical optics moments as much as humanitarian ones. What mainstream coverage underplays is the pattern: China has tightened safety rules repeatedly over two decades, yet mass-casualty mine accidents recur with grim regularity. The Liushenyu blast will likely produce another round of inspections and temporary shutdowns, but without structural reform of production-quota incentives that push miners to cut corners, the cycle is unlikely to break. India and South Korea's public condolences also carry a subtext — both nations are deepening economic ties with Beijing, and visible empathy is part of that diplomatic choreography.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Liushenyu coal mine in China?
A gas explosion struck the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi Province, northern China, on Friday, killing at least 82 people according to media reports. The blast is one of the deadliest mining incidents in China in recent memory.
Why did South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung condole China?
President Lee Jae Myung expressed condolences over the loss of at least 82 lives in the Shanxi coal mine explosion, posting a message in both Korean and Chinese on platform X on Sunday. He also hoped Chinese authorities would swiftly control the situation and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Did India's PM Modi also respond to the Shanxi mine disaster?
Yes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday via a post on X, expressing sadness over the loss of lives and praying for the safe recovery of missing persons.
How safe is coal mining in China?
China's coal mining industry has a historically high accident rate, though safety standards have been progressively tightened in recent years. Deadly incidents still occur; earlier in 2025, three workers were trapped in a separate tunnel collapse in Shaanxi Province's Zhenping County.
Where exactly did the 2025 Shanxi mine explosion occur?
The explosion occurred at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi Province in northern China. A separate, earlier 2025 incident involved a tunnel collapse in Zhenping County, Ankang city, in the neighbouring Shaanxi Province.
