State Council to investigate deadly coal mine blasts

The State Council will launch a full investigation into two deadly gas explosions in one coal mine in Northeast China's Jilin Province, the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) announced Sunday.

The investigation, which is headed by SAWS director Yang Dongliang, will probe details including who tried to conceal the death toll, said the country's work safety watchdog, adding that those responsible will be brought to justice.

The death toll from the gas explosion at Babao Coal Mine in Baishan on March 29 has risen to 36 after seven more deaths were reported by local authorities on Saturday.

The mine is under the State-owned Tonghua Mining Group.

Another explosion in the same mine on Monday killed six people and injured four others. Another 11 miners remain missing.

So far, a total of 42 deaths have been reported in the two blasts.

Seven principals, including the chairman of the mining group's parent company Jilin Province Coal Industry Group, have been either taken into custody by local police or placed under investigation.