At least eight people have been killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China's Shanxi province. Additionally, 38 workers remain trapped underground.

The explosion occurred at the Liusheniu coal mine in Changzhi city at 7:30 PM local time on Friday (May 22), according to a report by China's state news agency, Xinhua. Approximately 247 workers were inside the mine at the time of the incident.

According to Xinhua, at least 200 workers had been successfully rescued by 6:00 AM local time on Saturday.

The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation. Xinhua reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to rescue those missing, a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident, and accountability for those responsible.

Shanxi province is recognized as China's primary coal-producing region. Larger in area than Greece, the province is home to around 34 million people. Last year, the region produced 1.3 billion tons of coal, accounting for one-third of China's total output.

However, the safety record of the mining industry in Shanxi province remains remarkably poor. Thousands of coal mine accidents have been recorded in the province in recent years.
Source: CNN