A catastrophic gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province has killed 82 workers. The disaster highlights critical safety gaps, including the use of unauthorized tunnels and the ignoring of gas sensors, despite China's push toward intelligent mining technology. While China has significantly reduced mining fatalities over the last two decades through automation and regulation, the country remains the world's largest coal producer. This event underscores the tension between rapid industrial output and the safety of the workforce during the energy transition.
