At least 82 people have been killed in a coal mine blast in northern China, according to state media.
“Reporters learned from the scene of the gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine of the Tongzhou Group in Shanxi Province that the accident has resulted in 82 deaths,” state news agency Xinhua said.
The blast happened at 07:29 pm local time on Friday at a coal mine in Shanxi, with 247 workers reportedly on duty at the time of the incident. It is unclear how many others are still trapped at the mine site.
Chinese media is calling the accident the deadliest coal mine disaster in over a decade. Although China has improved its safety record in recent years, there has still been a steady stream of fatalities.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for rescuers to “make every effort” to find the missing and said the aftermath must be “properly handled”.
He said those responsible for the accident should be held to account, adding: “All regions and departments must learn from the lessons of the accident, remain vigilant regarding workplace safety, thoroughly investigate, rectify all types of risks and hidden dangers, and resolutely prevent and curb the occurrence of major and serious accidents.”
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