An explosion occurred in a coal mine in northern China's Shanxi province on Friday evening, local time, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. At least 247 workers were trapped in the mine at the time and a massive rescue operation was launched.
On Saturday morning, the state news agency reported that at least 90 people had died in the explosion and that nine were missing. The search for the missing is still ongoing.
Following the accident, the Chinese government has ordered a nationwide crackdown on illegal mining and launched a “rigorous and uncompromising” investigation into the mine explosion.
Those responsible will be severely punished in accordance with the law, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.
One person is suspected of involvement in the explosion and has been detained "in accordance with the law," the state news agency said.
