Recently, the Ministry of Emergency Management and the Ministry of Finance jointly announced the list of newly established national professional emergency rescue teams. Foryou Corporation's Mine Rescue Team, known as the "guardian angel" in the depths of mines, has officially joined the "national team," marking a historic leap from an enterprise elite force to a national powerhouse. This addition further strengthens China's emergency rescue capabilities.
Established in 1952, Foryou Corporation's Mine Rescue Team boasts a 73-year legacy of excellence. Currently, it comprises seven squadrons with over 350 members and is recognized as a first-class standardized mine rescue unit. It was named one of the first "National Class-A Teams" by the former Ministry of Coal and serves as a critical regional rescue force in Shanxi Province.
In recent years, the team has achieved outstanding results, securing second place in national competitions for three consecutive years and earning multiple special awards, gold medals, and silver medals in industry-level contests. It also represented China at the 11th International Mine Rescue Competition in Yekaterinburg, Russia, winning the "Best Fighting Spirit Award" and second place in breathing apparatus operations, showcasing China's rescue capabilities to the world.
Since its inception, the team has upheld its social responsibilities by continuously upgrading rescue equipment and honing professional skills. It has participated in numerous major disaster responses, including the Tangshan Earthquake, the Wangjialing Mine Flooding Accident at Huajin Coking Coal, the Da Hongcai Iron Mine Flooding in Xinzhou's Dai County, flood relief efforts in Zhengzhou and Yuncheng, the Xiaoyao Illegal Mining Flooding Incident in Xiaoyi, the Lijialou Coal Mine Flooding in Taiyuan, and the drainage rescue at Hasuhai in Inner Mongolia. To date, the team has engaged in over 4,100 rescue operations, saving more than 3,700 lives and recovering over 1 billion yuan in losses for the state and enterprises, setting five rescue records.
For its exceptional performance, Foryou Corporation's Mine Rescue Team has received numerous national and provincial honors, including "National Advanced Mine Rescue Unit," "National Super-Standard Mine Rescue Team," and the "Shanxi May Day Labor Award."
National professional emergency rescue teams serve as the backbone of China's comprehensive emergency response system, undertaking critical missions such as disaster relief and cross-regional emergency support. This selection includes 10 teams across four categories: mine rescue, hazardous chemical rescue, oil and gas rescue, and specialized support. Only two mine rescue teams were chosen—Foryou Corporation's Mine Rescue Team as the sole representative from Shanxi and another from Shaanxi.
The Ministry of Emergency Management and the Ministry of Finance have urged selected teams to strengthen standardized management, enhance investment in resources, and improve rapid deployment, life search, on-site operations, and coordination capabilities to build a professional and formidable rescue force.
Joining the national emergency response force signifies Foryou Corporation's Mine Rescue Team's transition from an "enterprise rescue unit" to a "national emergency asset." Moving forward, the team will shoulder broader public safety responsibilities by intensifying practical training and emergency response drills to further enhance its capabilities. While continuing to safeguard enterprise safety, it stands ready to respond to national calls for major mine disasters, geological hazards, and other emergency missions nationwide.
The team will provide robust support for China's emergency management system, characterized by unified command, specialized readiness, rapid response, and coordinated operations, ensuring the protection of people's lives and property with professional expertise.
In April 2026, the team will represent China at the 14th International Mine Rescue Competition in Zambia, demonstrating the prowess of China's mine rescue professionals on the global stage.
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