Beijing: At least eight people were killed, and 38 others remained trapped underground after a gas explosion ripped through a coal mine in northern China’s Shanxi province, state media reported on Saturday.

The explosion took place at 7:29 pm local time on Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.

A total of 247 miners were working underground when the blast occurred. By 6 am on Saturday, rescue teams had safely brought 201 workers to the surface, the report said.

Local emergency management authorities confirmed that eight miners had died, while search and rescue operations were continuing for the 38 workers still trapped underground.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged “all-out efforts” to rescue those trapped and treat the injured, while also calling for a thorough investigation into the accident, Xinhua reported.

He “emphasised that all regions and departments must draw lessons from this accident, remain constantly vigilant regarding workplace safety... and resolutely prevent and curb the occurrence of major and catastrophic accidents”.

Earlier reports by Xinhua said carbon monoxide levels at the mine had “exceeded limits”, raising fears over the condition of those still underground. Some trapped miners were said to be in “critical condition”.

Shanxi province, one of China’s major coal-producing regions, has long been at the centre of the country’s mining industry.

Although mine safety standards in China have improved over the years, accidents continue to occur in the sector, where safety norms are often criticised as inadequate.

China remains the world’s largest consumer of coal and the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, even as it rapidly expands renewable energy capacity.