There are currently 82 confirmed victims of the gas explosion that occurred in a coal mine in Shanxi province, in north-eastern China. This was reported by Chinese state media.
The explosion occurred around 7.30pm local time while 247 workers working on the evening shift were inside the plant.
Over two hundred workers evacuated
At least 201 people had been evacuated by 6am local time, state news agency Xinhua reported. Rescue and verification operations in the mine tunnels remain ongoing.
Local authorities have started an investigation to clarify the causes of the explosion, which occurred following a gas leak inside the extraction site.