Shenergy Property & Casualty Insurance underwrote the work safety liability policy for the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi province, where a gas explosion on Friday killed at least 90 people, local media reported, while China Coal Insurance underwrote the mine’s environmental pollution liability policy.
The gas explosion, at 19:29 local time, is China’s deadliest mining disaster since 2009. Of the 247 workers underground at the time, two remain missing. More than 100 have been rescued.
Shenergy P&C’s Changzhi branch deployed staff to the accident site by 10:00 am on 23 May, setting up an on-site consultation point to review underwriting information, compile lists of affected personnel, and set up a fast-track claims channel.
Ban Shuping, Party Committee Secretary and General Manager of the firm’s local branch, said a dedicated advance claims fund was fully prepared by noon that day, with payouts to be disbursed as soon as possible to support resettlement and medical treatment.
China Coal Insurance also formed a dedicated task force to verify pollution liability data and compile lists of affected personnel ahead of claims processing.
Insurers expedite claims
More than 50 insurers—including PICC P&C, China Life P&C, New China Life, China Taiping and Bai Nian Life—have activated fast-track claims to process policies of affected workers and their families. The emergency measures include simplified claims paperwork, waived designated-hospital restrictions, and coverage for treatments outside standard social security provisions.
China Life Insurance’s Shanxi branch underwrote a group policy covering 28 above-ground logistics workers at the mine, none of whom were killed or injured. The branch is conducting a broader sweep of individual accident and life policies held by affected miners and has so far identified two injured policyholders.
On 24 May, the Shanxi Financial Regulatory Bureau convened a meeting to hear insurers report on their claims readiness, chaired by deputy director Zhao Jianfei. Zhao Jianfei set out four requirements for insurers: protect policyholders’ rights; integrate insurance services into the emergency response without disrupting rescue operations; expedite loss assessment, advance payments, and final settlement; and report daily progress to regulators.
