Four officials have been placed under investigation after a coal mine blast in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province last week killed 21 and left another missing.

The officials are all with the administration of colliery work safety of Qiezihe District, Qitaihe City, according to the city government. They are being investigated for dereliction of duty.

The explosion at a private coal mine in Qitaihe on November 29 trapped 22 workers underground.

The mine did not receive approval from the city and district governments, and had been operating illegally, authorities said.

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