At least 90 people are dead following a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, state media reported on Saturday.
It was initially unclear how many people remain trapped inside the mine in Shanxi Province, to the south-west of Beijing, with rescue efforts ongoing.
State news agency Xinhua had previously reported that a total of 201 people have been rescued following the explosion at the mine in Qinyuan County on Friday evening, including eight dead.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, according to Xinhua.
A total of 247 people are believed to have been inside the mine at the time of the explosion.
The mine was operating on a three-shift system, and the accident occurred during a shift change, according to local media.
Shanxi Province is considered a heartland of China's coal industry. Although China has been increasingly turning to renewable energy in recent years, coal still accounts for just over half of the country’s total energy consumption.
The coal industry in Shanxi is known for its poor safety standards.
Mining accidents resulting in many fatalities are not uncommon in the country.
