Chinese local authorities have revised the death toll from a major coal mine disaster in Shanxi province, confirming that 82 people were killed in a gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine.The incident, which occurred late on Friday, is being described as one of the country’s most serious mining accidents in recent years.

Initial reports from state media had placed the number of fatalities at around 90, but officials later clarified that the earlier figure was incorrect due to confusion in the chaotic aftermath of the explosion.According to officials, 247 workers were underground at the time of the blast.While two individuals remain unaccounted for, 128 workers were injured and required hospital treatment, and 35 others escaped without injury.

Authorities explained that the miscount occurred because the situation at the mine was disorganised immediately after the explosion, and the company’s records of workers on site were unclear.The mine is operated by Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group, and following the tragedy, all of its mining operations have been suspended.Company executives have also been detained as investigations continue.

The Chinese government has ordered a full inquiry into the incident, while President Xi Jinping has called for urgent medical treatment for the injured and reinforced the need for stronger safety oversight in industrial production.

State media and the People’s Daily have emphasised the importance of improving safety standards and avoiding prioritising production output over worker safety.The Liushenyu mine has a production capacity of 1.2-million tonnes of coal annually, reflecting China’s heavy reliance on coal for energy, with billions of tonnes mined each year.The disaster is now recorded as the deadliest mining accident in China since 2009.