At least 82 dead in Chinese coal mine explosion, state media reports

At least 82 people have been killed in a coal mine blast in northern China, according to state media.

"Reporters learned from the scene of the gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine of the Tongzhou Group in Shanxi Province that the accident has resulted in 82 deaths," state news agency Xinhua said.

The blast happened at 19:29 local time on Friday (11:29 GMT) at a coal mine in Shanxi, with 247 workers reportedly on duty at the time of the incident.