10 detained over deadly colliery blast

Ten people have been detained following a deadly colliery blast that left 32 dead in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region last week.

Those detained include Qiu Zetian, board chairman of Chifeng Baoma Group (CBG), Zhang Xiaodong, CBG General Manager, Liu Haijun, General Manager of CBG subsidiary Baoma Mining Company, and head of the mine Lyu Guoyou, according to the investigation team sent by the State Council. They were detained for alleged illegal mining and dereliction of duty in major accident.

The explosion occurred around midday Saturday at Baoma Mining Company in Chifeng city.

A total of 181 people were working underground at the time of the accident, with 149 workers managing to get above ground to safety.

There were "serious violations of laws and regulations" before the blast, according to the State Administration of Work Safety. The mine was ordered to stop production in March for illegal mining, but operations continued, authorities said. Endi