The death toll from a coal mine accident in China has risen to 90 people.

The death toll from a gas explosion at the Lushenyu coal mine in Changzhi city in northern China has increased to 90 people, the Reuters news agency reported on May 23.

According to media reports, 247 workers were on duty underground at the time of the incident. Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the authorities to "make every effort" to provide assistance to the victims and conduct search and rescue operations.

The Chinese leader also ordered a thorough investigation into the causes of the accident and brought those responsible to justice. The heads of the company responsible for the development of the field were detained.

Deep in the mountains: fines for failure to ensure safety in mines will be raised

Sanctions for large enterprises can reach several tens of billions.

A gas explosion in a Chinese mine became known earlier that day. At 5:15 a.m. Moscow time, 38 people remained under the rubble. Later, 82 deaths were reported. According to the Xinhua news agency, a representative of the Shanxi Tongzhou Group Liushenyu Coal Industry Co. mining company responsible for the mine has been detained.