Thirty people, including 16 county-level officials, have been punished for their roles in the collapse of a gypsum mine that killed 33 people in north China's Hebei Province.

Dai Zhanyin, vice major of Xingtai City, and other 15 officials have received party and administrative punishments. They will face warnings, demotions, dismissal and prosecution for production safety transgressions.

The mine owner Zhang Yukui and other 14 persons directly responsible for the accident were charged with negligence in dealing with safety risks.

The Kangli mine in Shangwang village, Xingtai County, collapsed in November last year, damaging two other gypsum mines nearby and toppling a two-story building. The accident claimed 33 lives, and left 40 injured and four missing.

The accident also caused an economic loss of 7.74 million yuan (992,000 U.S. dollars), according to Saturday's Yanzhao City Daily.

An investigation team organized by the State Council found that the three mines, which had no safety production permits, continued to operate after being told to cease production for safety overhaul.

Source: Xinhua