A coal mine boss who tried to cover up a deadly gas blast that
killed seven people and injured two others on Thursday will be
severely punished, said the provincial work safety watchdog
Friday.
Jiang Tianlin, owner of Fenghuangling Coal Mine in Linwu County
of central China's Hunan Province, confessed he had reported only
two deaths had occurred.
The explosion on Thursday morning happened when nine people were
working underground. Seven workers were trapped in the pit while
the two others managed to escape, said the source.
Being informed of the cover-up by local people on Thursday
afternoon, the police and discipline inspection department started
to investigate and immediately detained Jiang.
"The coal mine owner will be severely punished according to the
law," said Ding Guoqiang, head of Chenzhou Branch of the provincial
coal mine safety bureau, adding that the investigation is still
underway.
(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2007)