Two mining company executives were sacked Tuesday in connection with a deadly coal mine accident in north China's Shanxi Province.

They were Sang Yongqing, party chief of the Shenzhou Mining Co., Ltd. in Luliang City, and Zhao Senlin, the mine's manager, said a spokesman with the Taiyuan Coal Gasification (Group) Co., Ltd., a share holder of the mining company.

The accident happened Sunday morning at Shenzhou Mining Co., Ltd. when the rope of a cable car, carrying 42 miners returning outside, suddenly snapped.

Five miners were killed. Another 36 are receiving treatment at Luliang People's Hospital.

An investigation team was set up on Monday. The members included officials and experts from the provincial work safety bureau, coal mine safety bureau and the committee for discipline inspection.

"Such a coal mine accident is uncommon and it caused so many injuries," said Wang Xueyan, head of the investigation team and vice director of the provincial coal mine safety bureau.

"Those who are held accountable for the accident must be punished sternly according to law," he added.

The mine generates 840,000 tons of coal every year. Production was stopped after the accident.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2008)