GAS EXPLOSION AT CHINESE COAL MINE KILLS 90 AND INJURES 128 IN DEADLIEST MINING DISASTER IN OVER A DECADE

A gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Changzhi, Shanxi Province, China on Thursday evening killed 90 people and injured 128 others, making it the deadliest mining disaster in China in over a decade.

The blast occurred at 7:29 pm local time on May 22. Of the 247 workers underground at the time, rescue operations to reach those still unaccounted for were ongoing as of Friday.

The mine is operated by Shanxi Tongzhou Group Liushenyu Coal Industry. Chinese authorities said a "preliminary judgment indicates the coal mine enterprise committed serious illegal violations." Several company executives have been detained.

Sources: NPR, Al Jazeera, Washington Post