Leading officials of Lushan County in central China's Henan Province were temporarily relievedof their posts and asked to repent their responsibility in the coal mine blast that killed 33 miners and injured six.

The officials included Huang Yongmin, deputy head of Lushan County, Wang Changhai, deputy director of the city's legal bureau and Pei Zhide, deputy warden of the Lushan Prison. Further punishment of these officials will be given according to further investigation, according to a decision made Monday by the Pingdingshan City Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

Earlier, the local public security organ had detained Cheng Jiancheng, owner of the privately-owned mine, and Li Wei, a sub-contractor of the mine.

The coal mine blast occurred at the Pingdingshan Xinsheng Coal Mine in Liangwa Town of Lushan County on Nov. 11. Soon after the accident, the State Council and Henan provincial government sent investigation teams to Pingdingshan.

Initial investigation results showed the accident was due in part to unlicensed illegal mining. The government of Lushan Countyis being held responsible for poor management and lack of supervision on safety loopholes of the mine.

Source: Xinhua