A train in China passed through the Yamen Pass Tunnel in Shanxi Province on June 7, where coal ash was sucked into the carriages, leaving many passengers covered in black soot. This news quickly became a hot topic on Baidu on June 9.
Chinese netizens posted videos online on June 7, showing passengers on a train passing through the Yamen Pass Tunnel inhaling coal ash, resulting in many passengers being covered in soot. Passengers were seen covering their noses and faces with clothing as they were stained black by the coal powder. Some passengers shared photos of black dust on their hands, faces, and small tables.
According to Jimo News on June 8, the train was the K5302 train from Taiyuan, Shanxi to Datong.
On June 8, the Taiyuan Passenger Transport Section of Taiyuan Railway issued a statement explaining that the train in question was a non-air-conditioned passenger train, and due to some windows not being closed when entering the tunnel, dust from the tunnel entered the carriages, making the environment uncomfortable for passengers.
Once this incident was exposed, it drew attention from netizens.
A netizen named “Nostalgic for the Dialect of My Hometown” commented, “The accumulation of coal ash dust in the tunnel is not a good thing! It could easily lead to a major incident of dust explosion or explosion! Hope the railway department takes this seriously! Don’t wait for accidents to happen before finding the cause!”
“Out of 0cM” concurred, saying that when coal ash dust reaches a certain concentration, it could potentially explode.
Another netizen, “Celebrating a Century of Marriage fa63d,” believed that the railway department “must compensate for this, inhaling such dense ‘coal air’ into the body, will there be any sedimentation, and how long will it take to clear out?”
Shanxi is one of China’s largest coal-producing regions, and coal is one of the province’s four major pillars of the economy.