7 July 2002
An explosion on 4 July 2003 at the Yakeshi coal mines near Yakeshi City in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region killed at least 22 miners and injured a further six people. According to reports, 15 other miners working at the time of the explosion were rescued uninjured
An official with the mine safety Production office reported that the Yakeshi coal mine was government-owned and had operated legally since 1985.