(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-10-30 21:44

CHONGQING -- Police have detained four people suspected of being responsible for a deadly coal mine accident in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

The blast, which ripped through a small colliery in the outlying district of Chongqing last Thursday, killed ten miners and left one missing, said Ai Yang, deputy secretary-general of the Chongqing municipal government.

The detainees include Wang Dafu, board chairman of the Yuejin Coal Mine, Li Shiwu, manager of the mine, a deputy manager and a member of staff who was responsible for the explosives.

Ai said the cause of the accident was still under investigation.

The Yuejin Coal Mine is a small legally operated mine capable of producing 30,000 tons of coal a year.

Meanwhile, 19 miners are still trapped in two separate colliery floods in Jiangxi and Shaanxi provinces. Local officials said both mine bosses and other relevant employees under suspicion are already under police custody. The rescue operations are continuing.