At least 90 people have been killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, according to state media. Nine others are said to be still missing.
A total of 247 miners were underground in the Liushenyu mine near the city of Changi when the explosion occurred on Friday afternoon (Dutch time), state media Xinhua said.
Chinese President Xi Jingping has called for the use of “all necessary means” to search for those missing in the mine. He also wants an investigation into the cause of the accident, with those responsible held accountable, according to Chinese state media.
China is both the largest producer and consumer of coal in the world. More than one and a half million Chinese work in a coal mine. Accidents are occurring more often in the many mines in the country. According to the ANP news agency, there have been an estimated three thousand mining accidents in China between 2010 and 2025.
Addition (23/05, 08:15): This article has been supplemented with the most recently reported death toll in Chinese media.
