A gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China has killed at least 90 people, state media reported on Saturday, the country’s biggest mining disaster in 17 years.

The blast occurred at 7:29pm on Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, according to state news agency Xinhua.

At least 90 people had died and 123 others were sent to hospital for treatment, four of whom were in critical or severe condition, state broadcaster CCTV said.

Of those sent for treatment, 33 had returned home as of 2:00pm on Saturday, it added. A total of 755 emergency and medical personnel were dispatched to the site, with rescue efforts still ongoing Saturday afternoon, CCTV added.

Survivor and injured miner Wang Yong told CCTV there was a “puff of smoke” and he smelled sulphur.

He recalled seeing people choked by the smoke before he fainted.

“I lay down for about an hour and woke up by myself. I called the people next to me and got out of the mine together,” Wang said, according to CCTV.

Helmeted rescuers were carrying stretchers at the site, with ambulances visible in the background, video by CCTV showed.

President Xi Jinping urged “all-out efforts” to treat the injured and called for thorough investigations into the incident, Xinhua said.

He “emphasised that all regions and departments must draw lessons from this accident, remain constantly vigilant regarding workplace safety… and resolutely prevent and curb the occurrence of major and catastrophic accidents”.

A person “responsible for” the company involved in the explosion has been “placed under control in accordance with the law”, Xinhua said.

Premier Li Qiang called for timely and accurate release of information and rigorous accountability.

State media initially reported four deaths and dozens trapped after levels of carbon monoxide — a highly toxic, odourless gas — in the mine were found to have “exceeded limits”.

Some of those stuck underground were in “critical condition”, that report said. The death toll then jumped sharply as the morning wore on.

The mine is operated by Shanxi Tongzhou Group Liushenyu Coal Industry, which was established in 2010 and is controlled by Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group, according to corporate database Qichacha.

Lax safety protocols

Shanxi, one of China’s poorer provinces, is the country’s coal-mining capital.

Mine safety in the country has improved in recent decades, but accidents still occur in an industry where safety protocols are often lax and regulations vague.

In 2023, a collapse at an open-pit coal mine in the northern Inner Mongolia region killed 53 people.

And in 2009, an explosion at a mine in northeastern Heilongjiang province killed more than 100.

China is the world’s top consumer of coal and the largest greenhouse gas emitter, despite installing renewable energy capacity at record speed.

President Zardari offers condolences

Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari expressed profound grief and sorrow over the explosion. In a statement issued by the Presidency, the President conveyed his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the Chinese president, the bereaved families and the people of China over the tragic accident.

“The people of Pakistan stand in solidarity with their Chinese brothers and sisters during this difficult time,” the statement quoted him as saying.

The president also expressed sympathy with those injured in the accident and prayed for their early recovery. He expressed hope that the ongoing rescue efforts would succeed in bringing the remaining trapped workers to safety.

He also appreciated the rescue and emergency response efforts undertaken by the Chinese authorities following the incident, the statement said.