Abstract: Aiming at the instability disaster of coal mine goaf, based on the disaster type and hazard analysis, the present situation and progress of the research on the prevention and control technology of the mine goaf instability hazards in China are systematically summarized from the three aspects of the mechanism, evaluation method and control technology of the mine goaf instability hazards, and the main problems are discussed. The research shows that the main types of disasters induced by goaf instability are ground collapse and secondary disasters induced by it, mine earthquake disasters induced by sudden instability in large area of goaf, equipment damage caused by underground (roof or overburden, air wave, etc.) and hazards of operators. The research on the theory of complex disaster in goaf instability, such as the chain mechanism of goaf instability, the control theory and method of chain breaking and disaster reduction, and the monitoring and early warning technology during the disaster, will be the focus of future research.