The central government had sent an investigation team under State Economic and Trade Commission chief Li Rongrong after reports that more than 300 people may have been trapped when the tin mine flooded on July 17.

Li Rongrong had ordered rescuers to pump all the water out of the mine to ascertain the true death toll and said those responsible for the accident would be punished.

Accusations of a cover-up arose after reports said that mine owner Li Dongming had tried to bribe and threaten survivors to keep quiet.

"We suspect the mine owner of trying to cover up the accident but so far we haven't been able to ascertain whether local officials were involved," said an official at the Guangxi Economic and Trade Commission, which also sent investigators.

Li Dongming was described on the People's Daily Website as a former teacher who rose to become a millionaire entrepreneur in just a few years.

His company, Nandan Longquan Mineral Smelting Plant, was set up in 1988, employed some 5,800 people in businesses including forestry, chemicals and foodstuffs and had paid more than 220 million yuan (US$27 million) in taxes to Guangxi since 1989.

The Communist Party's Central Committee and the State Council, or cabinet, had also demanded a full investigation and punishment of the culprits.

But one local reporter said it could take weeks to uncover the truth about the accident.

"It's like a reservoir down there," said the reporter from the People's Daily. "It could take a long, long time."

The Yangcheng Evening News reported on Sunday that the death toll from the accident was at least 78.

It said the mine had 1,500 workers and that four teams of 70 to 90 people each were in the mine when it flooded.

(Agencies 08/06/2001)