By staff reporter Zhu Tao

A government probe has revealed that a deadly summer mining accident that killed 35 miners and injured one other in Hebei Province was concealed and later downplayed by local officials.

According to an October 24 report from the State Administration of Work Safety, the accident occurred July 14 in Yuxian County when explosives illegally stored in a mine shaft suddenly detonated. Investigators confirmed the mine was operating without the required licenses.

The mine owner initially tried to cover up the accident but was foiled by local residents who reported the incident. Caijing learned that local officials helped the mine owner conceal evidence by hiding corpses and keeping relatives of the dead quiet with payments and threats.

It was not until October 7, almost three months after the disaster, that the provincial government filed an official report stating 30 miners had died.

The central government then launched an investigation. So far, 25 local officials have been punished, 18 of whom were placed under arrest. Li Hongxing, party chief of the Yuxian and county governer Qi Jianhua have been removed from their posts and are under further investigation.