Chinese premier sends condolences to Turkey over coal mine explosion

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent his condolences to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday over the hundreds killed in the deadly coal mine explosion in Turkey.

In the message, Li said he was deeply saddened by the accident and felt deeply grieved over the deaths of the victims, and expressed sincere condolences to the Turkish government, families of the dead, and the injured.

The explosion took place in a privately owned mine in the western province of Manisa during a shift changeover on Tuesday. The death toll stood at 282 on Thursday, with hundreds more still trapped underground, making it the country's worst industrial disaster.

Turkey has declared three days of national mourning for the victims of the explosion.