On Sunday, sixteen died in a devastating coal mine fire in southern China, as reported by local authorities.
The inferno erupted at the Shanjiaoshu coal mine, situated in the town of Panguan within the Guizhou province.
Preliminary findings from the investigation indicate that the victims were trapped when a conveyor belt ignited, leading to this horrific incident.
The Panzhou city government conveyed this information through a statement posted on social media.
China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, remains heavily reliant on coal for its electricity generation, despite substantial investments in wind and solar power capacity.
While the nation's coal mining industry has made strides in enhancing safety conditions for workers in recent years, regrettably, such tragic incidents resulting in loss of life continue to occur.