Chinese officials have revised the death toll from a deadly coal mine explosion in northern China from 90 to 82, blaming early confusion and inaccurate worker counts in the chaotic aftermath of the disaster.

The gas explosion struck the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province late on Friday, killing dozens of workers underground.

Even with the revised figure, the incident remains China’s deadliest mining accident since 2009, when an explosion at the Xinxing Mine in Heilongjiang province killed 108 people.

Chaos After The Blast

Local officials said the initial toll released by state media was incorrect because the company did not have a clear count of workers underground at the time of the explosion.

“There was chaos at the scene after the incident,” officials said during a late-night press conference.

A total of 247 miners were underground when the explosion occurred. Officials said two workers remain missing, while 128 people were injured and hospitalised. Another 35 escaped unhurt.

Company Executives Detained

The Liushenyu mine is owned by Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group.

Authorities said all four mines operated by the company have now been shut down and several executives detained pending investigation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered authorities to “spare no effort” in rescue and medical operations and called for a full investigation into the blast.

Modi Expresses Condolences

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the tragedy and extended condolences to China and its people.

In a post on X, Modi said he was saddened by the loss of lives in the Shanxi mining accident and conveyed condolences to Xi Jinping and the people of China.

He also prayed for the safe recovery of those still missing after the blast.

Safety Concerns Return To Spotlight

The disaster has reignited concerns over industrial safety in China’s massive coal sector, which remains central to the country’s energy supply.

State-run newspaper People’s Daily published a front-page editorial urging authorities to prioritise safety over economic development and prevent similar tragedies.

China mined nearly 4.83 billion tonnes of coal last year, with coal continuing to power much of the country’s electricity generation.

(with inputs from Reuters)