Officials Responsible for Industrial Accidents Punished

A total of 21 officials, including a provincial governor, who are responsible for three serious safety accidents in Shaanxi Province, northwest China, have been given administrative punishments of various degrees, sources said Wednesday.

Gas explosions in two local coal mines killed 38 and 48 people, respectively, on April 6 and 21.

Another accident took place on April 8 in a tunnel under a mountain, in which a stampede killed 17 people.

The State Council ordered harsh punishment of officials responsible for the accidents in accordance with government discipline. Governor Cheng Andong of the province was given a demerit. The other officials were given varied administrative punishments.

Further investigations into the causes of the accidents are still going on, and those who are found to have broken the law will be brought to court.






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