A coal mine in southwest China's Guizhou Province has been fined 2.65 million yuan (about US$330,000) following a fatal gas leak that killed 15 miners in March, according to the local coal mine safety watchdog on Wednesday.

Wulunshan colliery, which was being built when the tragedy occurred, was immediately ordered to cease construction and ordered to take measures to improve safety in the coal mine.

The coal mine can only resume construction when it meets safety standards, according to the Guizhou Provincial Coal Mine Safety Supervision Administration.

The gas leak occurred at 10 PM March 26 when 104 miners were carrying out construction work underground. The release of a sudden burst of gas killed 15 workers. Eighty-nine miners managed to escape.

Investigations showed that Wulunshan Coal Industry Co Ltd had failed to properly study the complicated geological conditions in the area and had not taken efficient measures to prevent a gas leak.

Company management was inadequate and safety measures were not strictly implemented, according to investigations.

The investigation also revealed that construction of the coal mine had begun without approval from higher authorities, and that managers had falsified files of miners working underground. Miners had received no training in how to prevent and escape gas leaks, according to investigators.

Qin Lerao, chairman of the board of directors and general manager of the company, received a serious warning from the Party and was fined 30,000 yuan (US$3,750).

Ten other company managers received Party warnings, administrative sanctions, demotions or fines or were dismissed.

Construction of the coal mine begun in May 2005 and it was due to go into operation in August this year. The 760 million yuan (US$95 million) coal mine will have an annual production capacity of 6.9 million tons.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2006)