42 penalised in China for mine blast

A total of 42 people have been penalised over a coal mine blast in which 27 were killed in Huainan City in China's eastern Anhui Province.
An explosion that ripped through the Dongfang Mine shaft on August 19 killed 27 workers and injured one, causing direct economic losses of over 45 million yuan.
Among the 42 people who have been penalised, 21 have been transferred to judicial organs for their alleged crimes, 20 received punishments for violating discipline, and another one received administrative punishment, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
An investigation showed that the mine was operating illegally at the time of the incident.

Although the mine was officially licensed, the city government had issued production suspension orders for all coal mines beginning on June 30 as part of a flood prevention effort.
The Dongfang mine's license has been suspended and illegal income has been confiscated, the report said.