A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county, Shanxi province, kills at least 90 people, according to Chinese state media reports cited by multiple outlets. The blast occurs late Friday, around 1129 GMT, when 247 workers are reported to be underground. Several sources also report that additional people are missing, with figures varying across coverage: some outlets cite nine missing, while others report larger numbers of trapped or unaccounted-for workers earlier in the response.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping orders rescue efforts following the accident, according to one report. Other outlets describe the incident as one of China’s deadliest mining accidents in recent years, including since at least 2009. The immediate cause is not fully established in the reports, with investigations ongoing as authorities assess what led to the gas explosion and manage the response underground and at the surface.

The broader context includes continuing concerns about mine safety in China and increased scrutiny following major recent accidents.