Scenes of chaos are unfolding in China, following the deadly explosion that occurred in a carbon mine in Sanxi province, some 500 kilometers southwest of Pekin.

According to BBC, citing Chinese state media, the death toll has reached 82.

“Reporters learned from the scene of the gas explosion at the Tongzhou Group’s Lisengyu coal mine in Shanxi province that the accident resulted in 82 deaths,” state news agency Xinhua reported.

The explosion in question was recorded at 19:29 local time on Friday night (22/5). There were 247 workers inside the mine at the time.

China: Rescue operations underway

Rescue crews are operating at the scene while authorities try to locate survivors and evacuate the injured.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered “all means” to be mobilized, care to be offered to the injured and an “in-depth investigation into the accident” to be carried out, Chinese media reported.

Earlier, the New China news agency had reported that levels of carbon monoxide had exceeded the permissible limit inside the mine.

Safety problems in Chinese mines

The Shanxi province is considered the centre of mining activity in China, as it has large coal deposits.

Despite measures taken in recent years to improve workplace safety, accidents in Chinese mines are still frequently recorded.

In many cases, according to international reports, the implementation of safety protocols is characterized as inadequate, which increases the risk of serious accidents.