China coal mine blast kills at least 90

BEIJING, May 23 (AFP) - A gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China has killed at least 90 people, state media reported on Saturday, the country's biggest mining disaster in 17 years.
A total of 247 workers were underground at the time of the blast, which occurred at 7:29 pm on Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, according to state news agency Xinhua.
At least 90 people had died and 123 others were sent to hospital for treatment, four of whom were in critical or severe condition, state broadcaster CCTV said.
Of those sent for treatment, 33 had returned home as of 2:00 pm on Saturday, it added.
A total of 755 emergency and medical personnel were dispatched to the site, with rescue efforts still ongoing Saturday afternoon, CCTV added.
Friday's explosion was the worst mining disaster in China since 2009, when 108 people were killed in a mine blast in northeast Heilongjiang province.
Survivor and injured miner Wang Yong told CCTV there was a "puff of smoke" and he smelled sulphur.