Hidden tunnels, fake doors: probe into China mine blast that killed 82

Investigators found that subcontracted laborers were sent into hidden tunnels without mandatory identification-location trackers.

China has uncovered concealed tunnels, falsified drawings, and fake doors in its investigation into the country’s deadliest mining disaster in more than 15 years. At least 82 workers were killed in a gas explosion late Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, with two still missing and 128 hospitalized, state media reported Tuesday.

The blast is the worst since 2009, when a gas explosion at Heilongjiang’s Xinxing Mine killed 108 people.

Concealed Operations

According to Xinhua, the mine operated two sets of plans and surveillance systems—one for inspectors and another reflecting actual operations. Known as “yin-yang drawings,” the dual records allowed operators to hide unregulated tunnels from authorities.

Coal extracted from these concealed shafts was excluded from official production figures and untaxed. Workers reportedly used wire mesh and plastic sacks sprayed with mortar to create fake doors resembling rock walls. When inspectors arrived, miners were tipped off, sealing the doors and disguising them with coal ash.

Missing Trackers, False Logs

Investigators found that subcontracted laborers were sent into hidden tunnels without mandatory identification-location trackers. Official logs showed 124 workers underground at the time of the blast, but in reality 247 were present—meaning 123 miners were untracked.

The absence of accurate maps and monitoring equipment severely hampered rescue efforts. Authorities said the mine, classified as “high-gas” with elevated explosion risk, had deliberately avoided installing gas-monitoring systems to evade oversight.

Accountability

The Liushenyu mine is controlled by Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group. State media reported that company officials have been detained.

China’s National Mine Safety Administration acknowledged that profit-driven practices such as falsified records and concealed tunnels remain common despite repeated crackdowns.

The government has vowed to leave “no stone unturned” in its investigation, pledging accountability for what has become a symbol of persistent safety failures in the coal industry.