Bangkok: China's state-run CCTV reported that the death toll from a gas explosion at a coal mine in Shanxi province, northern China, has risen to 90. The explosion occurred Friday night at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County while 247 workers were working underground. Initially, Xinhua news agency reported only 8 fatalities and that more than 200 workers had been rescued safely. The reason for the rapid rise in the death toll has yet to be explained.
According to Thai News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered all officials to expedite assistance to the injured and conduct full-scale rescue operations, while also instructing a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident to ensure that those responsible are severely punished according to the law. Similarly, Premier Li Qiang emphasized the need for transparent, accurate, and precise reporting of information and rigorous accountability. Local emergency management agencies stated that rescue operations are continuing, and executives of the company responsible for the mine have been detained by authorities.