China's top procuratorate investigates fatal mine explosions

BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) is investigating possible dereliction of duty in relation to two recent coal mine explosions that killed 53 people in northeast China's Jilin Province, authorities said Friday.

The explosions occurred on March 29 and April 1, respectively, at the Babao Coal Mine in the city of Baishan.

The mine belongs to the state-owned Tonghua Mining Group.

Procurators from the provincial, city and district levels have formed a special task force to investigate possible abuses of power or dereliction of duty that may have resulted in a neglect of work safety and the concealment of the blasts' death tolls, authorities said.

Four principals from the Tonghua Mining Group and Babao Coal Mine have been taken into custody, according to the SPP.

The Babao Coal Mine employs more than 3,500 workers.

The causes of the blasts are being investigated.

Latest development of H7N9 in China[Special]

We Recommend:
Shine on stage - Wuju Opera in photos	The 'milky river'- seriously polluted water	Terminal care - Go gentle into that good night
Photo story: Terminally ill man and his snack shop	New born tiger cubs meet with tourists in Jiangsu	Dawn of living dead in funeral stunt
China's weekly story (2013.3.23-3.28)	Floating bridge dates back to Song Dynasty	'How are you, my child'- loss of the only child