People detained after explosion at coal mine

People said to be responsible for a recent gas explosion at a coal mine in Yan'an, Shaanxi province, have been detained by the police, China Central Television reported on Friday.

Eleven people died and 11 were injured in the incident at Xintai Coal Mine in Yanchuan county on Monday night. At the time, 90 workers were underground. Of those, 81 got out, but two were seriously injured and died despite emergency treatment. Nine others who remained trapped underground were found dead at about 9 am on Tuesday, the Yan'an emergency management bureau said.

All injured survivors were sent to the hospital, and all are in stable physical condition.

The Shaanxi provincial government organized a meeting on Wednesday in which it said the cause of the accident should be clarified and those responsible should be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Officials said they will organize a large-scale investigation and rectify safety hazards in mines across the province to prevent similar accidents.