Police has seized the owner and manager of an illegal coal mine where explosion killed 25 people in northern Shanxi Province, local authorities said on Sunday.

Zhou Fuming, a coal mine operator in the resource-rich city of Linfen, allegedly sent workers into a pit which had been closed for failing to meet safety requirements, according to Shanxi Work Safety Administration.

A blast went off on Jan. 20, killing 25 workers underground.

Police of Linfen City investigated into the case and chased the Zhou in eight cities from Beijing to southern Xiamen City, and arrested Zhou in Xi'an City of northwestern Shaanxi Province on Saturday.

All the suspects involved in the case have been detained, police said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2008)