Shanxi Mining Accident: Official Data Shows 124 Miners, But Actual Count Was 247

TAIPEI (CNA) - A gas explosion occurred at a coal mine in Shanxi, China, on the evening of the 22nd. According to state media CCTV, the entry log showed 124 miners on duty, but after verification from multiple sources, the actual number of people underground was 247. Local officials stated that due to poor record-keeping, the information released was chaotic. Chinese authorities reported yesterday that the accident has resulted in 82 deaths, 2 people missing, 128 hospitalized, and 35 who were uninjured and returned home. CCTV reported that miners are required to pass through facial recognition, security gates, and register with location tracking cards before entering the mine. However, the entry board at the Qinyuan County Tongzhou Group Liushenyu Coal Mine showed only 124 people, while 123 individuals could not be found in the system. The report stated that the current priority is repeated search and rescue operations, particularly in previously searched areas, to ensure every location is covered. Currently, 335 professional rescue personnel and 420 medical staff are on-site. The fact that the actual number of miners was double the reported figure has led many Chinese netizens on Weibo to question whether there was a 'cover-up,' with calls for a strict investigation and concerns about the labor dispatch system leading to data inaccuracies. During a press conference last night, local officials claimed that the chaos following the accident caused the company to lose track of the number of workers.