At least 90 people are confirmed dead in a coal mine blast in north China's Shanxi Province, according to local authorities on Saturday.

The gas explosion occurred at 7:29 p.m. on Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County.

A person in charge of the company involved has been taken into custody in accordance with the law.

Rescue operations are underway and the cause of the explosion is under investigation.