On May 23, while the coal mine explosion in Changzhi City, Shanxi Province caused significant casualties, a magnitude 3.2 earthquake occurred in Yungang District, Datong City, Shanxi Province. The earthquake was triggered by the collapse of abandoned mine shafts.
According to reports from mainland China, at 11:27 am on May 23, a magnitude 3.2 earthquake struck Yungang District, Datong, Shanxi Province. The epicenter was located at 39.96 degrees north latitude and 113.03 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 0 kilometers.
However, this was not a natural earthquake. Reports indicate that the earthquake was confirmed to be caused by the collapse of the abandoned mine shafts in the area. There were no residential buildings above the collapse area, and it was preliminarily understood that there were no casualties. The actual situation remains unclear.
It is understood that the local coal mining industry has a long history, resulting in underground voids. The magnitude 3.2 tremor was caused by a partial collapse in an abandoned mine shaft void.
Records from the Datong City Emergency Management Bureau website show that Yungang District in Datong City has experienced several earthquakes in the past suspected to be related to collapses.
On the eve of the collapse of the abandoned mine shafts in Datong City, on the night of May 22, a natural gas explosion occurred at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Tongzhou Group, Qinyuan County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province, resulting in at least 90 deaths.