46 held accountable for coal mine explosion in Heilongjiang province

Forty-six people have been held accountable for a gas explosion happened at a coal mine in Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang province in November last year, according to an investigation report released on Wednesday.

The blast occurred at Shuangyang Coal Mine around noon on Nov 28 last year, killing 11 people and injuring six. It led to direct economic losses of more than 19.5 million yuan ($2.7 million), said the report, which was released by the Heilongjiang bureau of the National Mine Safety Administration.

The individuals held responsible for the explosion have received various punishments, including fines and suspensions. Among those 46 people included members of the Communist Party of China who have been punished by the Heilongjiang Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision, the report said.

For example, five staff members of the mine who were in charge of ventilation and mechanical and electrical engineering have been referred to the public security department for further action.

The deputy director of the ventilation unit of the mine is currently under investigation by the public security department.

Some people in leading positions, including the head of the mine and the chairman and general manager of Shuangyashan Mining Co have received disciplinary punishments.

Investigators found that the explosion was the result of serious illegal operations at the mine, chaotic safety management and inadequate safety supervision by superior companies, the report said.

Explaining the cause of the accident, the report said that the second installation surface on the left side of the mine discharged gas, and the air flow at the single air door of the return air lane had an electrical short-circuit, resulting in lack of air movement in the inlet air lane. This led to the accumulation of gas to dangerous levels, and sparks generated by a cable ignited the gas.