From Shanxi To Yunnan: A Look At China’s Deadliest Mining Disasters After Fresh Mine Collapse Kills Five

Last Updated:May 31, 2026, 17:37 IST

Illegal mine shaft collapse in Huize County, Yunnan kills five after six were rescued, follows Liushenyu coal mine blast in Shanxi that killed at least 82, spurring safety probes.

China’s mining sector has once again come under scrutiny after five people were killed in a mine shaft collapse during an illegal mining operation in Yunnan province, just days after the country’s deadliest mining disaster in more than 15 years claimed at least 82 lives in Shanxi.

According to Chinese state media, the latest incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday in Huize County in southwestern Yunnan province. Six people were rescued from the collapsed mine and rushed to hospital, but only one survived. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse, which reportedly took place at an illegal mining site.

The tragedy comes less than two weeks after a devastating gas explosion ripped through the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province on May 22, killing at least 82 miners, injuring more than 120 others and leaving two people missing. The blast has been described as China’s worst mining accident since 2009.

Investigators probing the Shanxi disaster uncovered a series of alleged safety violations, including hidden tunnels, fake rock doors, unregistered workers and missing tracking systems that made rescue efforts more difficult. State media reported that the mine operator had maintained falsified blueprints to conceal illegal mining activity from regulators.

The Shanxi explosion is now being compared with some of China’s deadliest mining disasters of the past two decades.

One of the worst mining accidents in modern Chinese history occurred in 2009 at the Xinxing coal mine in Heilongjiang province, where a gas explosion killed 108 miners. The disaster remains the deadliest mining accident in the country in recent decades.

Another major tragedy took place in 2005 when flooding at the Sunjiawan coal mine in Liaoning province killed more than 200 workers, prompting nationwide calls for stricter mine safety regulations. Historical records also show several major coal mine explosions and flooding incidents during the early 2000s that claimed hundreds of lives.

Although China has significantly reduced mining fatalities over the last two decades through stricter regulations and safety reforms, accidents continue to occur, particularly at smaller operations and illegal mines. Experts say pressure to maintain production, poor oversight and attempts to evade inspections remain recurring problems within parts of the industry.

The back-to-back disasters in Shanxi and Yunnan have renewed concerns about mining safety standards across the country. Following the Shanxi blast, Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered a thorough investigation and called for stronger workplace safety measures nationwide. Authorities have since launched large-scale inspections at mining sites and temporarily suspended operations at several facilities.

As investigators continue examining both incidents, the latest collapse in Yunnan has intensified pressure on regulators to crack down on illegal mining operations and strengthen enforcement of safety laws in one of the world’s largest mining industries.

News world From Shanxi To Yunnan: A Look At China’s Deadliest Mining Disasters After Fresh Mine Collapse Kills Five

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