A gas explosion at a coal mine in Shanxi province’s Qinyuan county has resulted in 90 fatalities, according to state media CCTV on Saturday.
The explosion occurred late Friday at Liushenyu coal mine with 247 workers underground, as reported by Xinhua earlier that day.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for authorities to “spare no effort” in treating the injured and conducting rescue operations, while ordering a thorough investigation into the accident’s cause and strict accountability under law.
Premier Li Qiang echoed these instructions, emphasizing timely information release and rigorous accountability.
Rescue efforts continue, with the incident’s cause still under investigation by local authorities.
China has reduced coal mine fatalities since the early 2000s through stricter regulations and safer practices, but the Liushenyu explosion remains one of the deadliest in a decade. Executives from the responsible company have been detained.