28 officials held accountable for east China gold mine blast

One of twenty-two Chinese miners is saved from hundreds of metres underground where they had been trapped for two weeks after a gold mine explosion in Qixia, in eastern China's Shandong province on Jan 24, 2021. A total of 45 people including 28 public officials have been held responsible for a gold mine blast that left 10 dead and one missing in the city of Qixia, east China's Shandong Province.- AFP

JINAN, Feb. 23 (Xinhua): A total of 45 people including 28 public officials have been held responsible for a gold mine blast that left 10 dead and one missing in the city of Qixia, east China's Shandong Province.

The accident was caused by the illegal storage and use of explosives and improper operation at the pithead, according to a report from the investigation team.