The gas explosion occurred late Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county, with 247 workers on duty underground, state media Xinhua reported.

Xi called for authorities to “spare no effort” in treating the injured and conducting ​search and rescue operations, while ordering ​a thorough investigation into the cause of the ‌accident ⁠and strict accountability in accordance with the law.

Premier Li Qiang echoed the instructions, calling for the timely and accurate release of information and rigorous accountability.

By early Saturday, 201 people had been brought to the ​surface, along with the eight dead, and rescue ​operations ⁠were ongoing, and the cause of the accident was under investigation, according to local ⁠emergency ​management authority at Qinyuan.