XI'AN - A quarry owner and four other people in charge of work safety have been detained by police after they attempted to cover up an accident that killed six people in their facility in northwest China's Shaanxi Province last week.

The deadly collapse happened in Xi Jiming's Quarry in Cuo'e Mountain in Jingyang county on March 21, but Xi failed to report the incident, police told Xinhua on Monday.

The quarry had been operating without a license, according to police.

They added further investigation and identification of the victims is under way.

Production of the 40-odd quarries in Cuo'e Mountain had been suspended, confirmed an official of the county's work safety administration.