MOSCOW, June 10 (RIA Novosti) - A total of 29 officials in China's southwest Sichuan Province were punished in connection with a fatal accident at a local coalmine in mid-May, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday citing local authorities.
A deadly explosion on May 11 at the Taozigou coalmine in the city of Luzhou killed 28 miners out of 108 people working underground at the time of the accident.
Among the officials punished for the accident were the mayor of Luzhou City and his deputy, who were both reprimanded. A deputy director of Luzhou financial department and a deputy head of the Luxian County, where Luzhou is located, were sacked from their posts.
The coal industry in energy-hungry China is one of the most dangerous in the world due to poor work safety standards and intensive work schedules.
Hundreds of lives are lost annually in accidents at coal mines in the country.
