The death toll from a devastating gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China's Shanxi province has risen to over 90 people, state media reported.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing China's Central Television (CCTV) and the Xinhua News Agency, local emergency management authorities initially reported a lower casualty count before search teams recovered more bodies. High levels of carbon monoxide are suspected to have caused the deaths of the miners. Rescue teams successfully evacuated 201 people from the mine, while search operations continue for those still trapped underground.
Shanxi province is one of China's largest coal-producing regions, playing a critical role in the country's energy infrastructure. Despite efforts by Chinese authorities to improve safety standards and implement stricter regulations in recent years, industrial accidents in the mining sector remain a persistent challenge due to high production demands.
