China deployed explosion-proof tracked rescue robots during emergency operations following the gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi Province on May 22.

Mine inspection robots are deployed underground early in the morning on May 24, 2026, to assist search efforts after a gas explosion trapped 247 workers at the Liushenyu Coal Mine operated by Shanxi Tongzhou Group in North China's Shanxi Province on May 22. Photo: Xinhua

The robots entered underground sections of the mine at around 3 a.m. on May 24 as rescue teams responded to unstable tunnel conditions, poor visibility, and high concentrations of hazardous gases. The equipment became one of the key tools used during the operation.

According to emergency response authorities, the robotic systems were equipped with thermal imaging cameras, methane detection sensors, real-time video transmission devices, and underground communication modules. Operators remotely guided the machines through damaged tunnels to collect environmental data and assess risks before rescue workers entered affected areas.

The use of robotic systems allowed emergency teams to inspect sections of the mine where the possibility of secondary explosions and tunnel collapse remained high. Rescue coordinators also used the robots to monitor gas levels and identify blocked routes underground.

The Shanxi incident reflects a broader trend in the mining industry toward integrating robotics into hazardous rescue environments. Governments and industrial safety agencies in China and other major mining countries have increased investment in autonomous and remotely operated systems designed for underground emergencies.

Industry analysts said the deployment demonstrates how rescue robotics are becoming part of standard emergency-response procedures in mining operations, particularly in environments where human access is limited by safety risks.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation by local authorities.