Shanxi Mine Disaster: Official Media Cites 'Dual Maps' and Lack of Tracking as Rescue Obstacles

A gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Qinyuan County, Shanxi Province, China, has resulted in at least 82 deaths. The China Emergency Management News reported that the greatest difficulty in the rescue operation was that many miners were not wearing required personnel tracking cards, and the underground maps provided by the mine were inconsistent with the actual tunnels, making it impossible to determine search directions. At the time of the accident, 247 people were working underground. After the accident, it was confirmed that 103 miners were not wearing tracking cards. Furthermore, some locations were not marked on the maps, leading officials to accuse the company of using 'dual maps' to conceal the truth. Rescue efforts are further complicated by toxic gases and the risk of secondary disasters.