Governor of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province Cheng Andong was given an administrative punishment by the State Council for the province's lax safety management, which led to three major accidents in April.
Another 20 officials in the province were either sacked or given an administrative punishment.
Gas explosions in two local coal mines killed 38 and 48 people on April 6 and 21.
In another incident on April 8, 17 people were killed when a stampede broke out in a tunnel under a mountain.
As part of the punishment, the provincial government was ordered to learn from the accidents and present a self-criticism to the State Council.
Further investigations into the causes of the accidents are still going on, and those who are suspected of breaking the law will be taken to court.
Premier Zhu Rongji said in March the State Council will discipline local officials held responsible for any accident that results in the loss of human life.
(China Daily 05/17/2001)
