An investigation squad set up by the State Council has begun to probe into Saturday’s colliery explosion that took place at the Baoma Mining Company in Inner Mongolia’s city of Chifeng.

Huang Yuzhi (middle), deputy director of the State Administration of Work Safety and head of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, announces the foundation of an accident investigation squad for the Chifeng colliery explosion and addresses the first plenary conference of the squad in Chifeng on Dec 5. [Photo/Xinhua]

The formation of the group was announced then following by a plenary conference convened for further deployment on Dec 5.

The squad will investigate any causes of the disaster, inspect officers in charge of the mine, compensate victims and their families, and provide a transparent incident report for the public.

Huang Yuzhi, deputy director of the State Administration of Work Safety and head of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, was appointed as the head of the investigation squad.

Huang Yuzhi, deputy director of the State Administration of Work Safety and head of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, is appointed as the head of the investigation squad for the Chifeng colliery explosion on Dec 5. [Photo/chinasafety.gov.cn]

Officials from the Ministry of Supervision, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, and People’s Government of Inner Mongolia, composed of the other squad members.

The squad set up four sub-groups, including a technical group, management group, integrated group, and accountability-inquiry group. Some experts in the coal mining field and representatives from the Supreme People’s Procuratorate will also play parts in the investigation.

Huang emphasized that all levels of departments should be aware of the current severity of the work safety, and draw a lesson from the calamity of mine accidents that have occurred in Ningxia, Chongqing, Heilongjiang, and Inner Mongolia. Furthermore, every part of a colliery should be supervised by a local administrative officer to ensure accountability at every coal mine. And a platform should be built for awarding miners or local residents who report illegal production and working conditions, Huang said.

A gas explosion took place around 11:30 am on Dec 3 at a colliery belonging to the Baoma Mining Company in Inner Mongolia’s city of Chifeng, resulting in 32 deaths.

Before the conference, all attendants stood for a moment of mourning for those killed in the incident.

The first plenary conference of the accident investigation squad convenes on Dec 5 for deployment and investigation of Saturday’s colliery explosion that took place at the Baoma Mining Company in Inner Mongolia’s Chifeng. [Photo/chinasafety.gov.cn]