A coal mine boss who tried to cover up a deadly gas blast that killed seven people and injured two others on Thursday will be severely punished, said the provincial work safety watchdog Friday.

 

Jiang Tianlin, owner of Fenghuangling Coal Mine in Linwu County of central China's Hunan Province, confessed he had reported only two deaths had occurred.

 

The explosion on Thursday morning happened when nine people were working underground. Seven workers were trapped in the pit while the two others managed to escape, said the source.

 

Being informed of the cover-up by local people on Thursday afternoon, the police and discipline inspection department started to investigate and immediately detained Jiang.

 

"The coal mine owner will be severely punished according to the law," said Ding Guoqiang, head of Chenzhou Branch of the provincial coal mine safety bureau, adding that the investigation is still underway.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2007)