At least 90 people have died following a gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi Province, northern China, state media reported. The incident occurred at 19:29 local time on Friday, with 247 workers reportedly on duty at the time.

Shanxi Province is known as China's coal-mining capital, a region that has historically struggled with mine safety. While safety standards have been improved in recent years, deadly accidents continue to occur, underscoring ongoing challenges in the industry.

Hundreds of rescuers have been dispatched to the scene, with footage showing paramedics and ambulances. Over 100 individuals were reportedly taken to hospital for treatment. The exact cause of the gas explosion has not yet been officially revealed, though state media indicated that carbon monoxide levels in the mine exceeded safety limits.

Following the disaster, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all efforts to be made to treat the injured and search for survivors. He also mandated an investigation into the accident's cause and accountability for those responsible.

Officials managing the Liushenyu Coal Mine have been detained, according to state media reports. The Ministry of Emergency Management has deployed 345 personnel from six rescue teams to assist in the operation.

China is the world's largest consumer of coal and a leading emitter of greenhouse gases, even as it rapidly expands its renewable energy capacity. The country has seen significant mining accidents in the past, including a 2009 explosion in Heilongjiang province that killed over 100 people and a 2023 collapse in Inner Mongolia that claimed 53 lives.

The Liushenyu mine is operated by the Tongzhou Group. The ongoing rescue and recovery efforts aim to account for all workers and determine the full extent of the tragedy.

Questions remain about the specific safety protocols in place at the Liushenyu mine and the factors that contributed to the gas buildup and subsequent explosion, which will likely be a focus of the official investigation.