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 county-level 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.

The report also noted that Shandong Wucailong Investment Co. Ltd., which owns the gold mine, and the city of Qixia had concealed and delayed the reporting of the accident.

A total of 22 miners were trapped underground as a result of the mine blast Jan. 10 in Qixia, under the city of Yantai. Eleven were rescued after being trapped for two weeks, and one remains missing. The accident caused direct economic losses of over 68 million yuan (US$10.5 million).

(Xinhua)