Three officials ousted following fatal gas blast

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-23 10:43

TAIYUAN -- Three coal mine officials were removed from their posts in the wake of a fatal gas blast that killed 74 miners in north China's Shanxi Province Sunday, said a source from the State Administration of Work Safety Monday.

The three officials were said to be the chief of Tunlan coal mine,the engineer-in-chief and a deputy chief of the coal mine in charge of work safety.

No further details regarding their identities are available at the moment.

The accident occurred at around 2:20 a.m. Sunday, while 436 miners were working underground at the Tunlan Coal Mine of Shanxi Coking Coal Group in Gujiao City, about 50 km away from Taiyuan, the provincial capital.

In addition to the 74 fatalities, the gas blast injured 114 miners. Five of the injured workers are in critical condition as of Sunday evening.