A total of 16 people accountable for the coal mine flooding that claimed 121 lives last year in southern Guangdong Province on Wednesday received prison terms ranging from two years with reprieve to six years.

The criminals, including Wang Zhuoxiong, chief of the local work safety watchdog, Li Zhenquan, deputy director of local land resources bureau, and many other city-level officials, were penalized for dereliction of duty, bribery, or illegal mining.

In accordance with the Communist Party of China (CPC) penal code, another 22 local officials in charge of mining administration have received administrative punishment.

According to sources from local courts, Zeng Yungao, the mine owner, and another 17 business people related with the mine, will receive punishments soon.

The Daxing Coal Mine of Xingning City was flooded on August 7, 2005 with 127 miners working underground. The mine had been operating without a license and in violation of local government orders to shut down after a July flooding at another nearby pit in the same city that killed 16 miners.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2006)