Conclusions of the investigation into the gas explosion in Liaoning Province that killed 214 miners on February 14 were released on Thursday afternoon, the day after a State Council meeting announced that local officials would be punished for their part in the disaster.

"A series of loopholes were found in the production, safety and management of electrical equipment," Wang Xianzheng, deputy director of the State General Administration of Work Safety (SAWS), told a news conference.

According to the investigation, sparks from an electric cable ignited gas that had built up in Sunjiawan Coal Mine, causing the worst mine blast in recent history, because workers had not followed safety rules by failing to turn the power off during cable maintenance.

The provincial vice-governor was among 33 officials charged with being responsible for the tragedy and given executive punishments or passed on for judicial ones earlier this week.

"It is the first time that a leading group was set up to deal with those responsible," said Chen Changzhi, vice-minister of supervision.

The colliery owners ignored production limitations, Wang said. "The digging of two small tunnels between two major ventilation shafts in the pit aggravated the disaster," he said. An underground gas deposit was disturbed and leaked into the main shaft.

"The electrician on duty broke safety regulations by repairing electrical equipment while the power was not shut down," said Wang, adding that investigators had also found that the gas monitoring system was not working properly at the time.

"There were 574 miners working underground when the accident took place," he said. "This is far higher than required for a mine whose monthly production is only 150,000 tons."

The official also said the investigation of another fatal blast in Shaanxi Province is still ongoing because about 350,000 cubic meters of underground water used to fight the fire had to be pumped out. The investigation will last until Mid-July.

(China Daily May 13, 2005)