A total of 453 people were punished in north China's Hebei Province last year for causing or failing to prevent coal mine accidents, according to the Hebei Provincial Bureau for Supervising Safety at Collieries.

A source with the bureau said that 16 people were given disciplinary punishment within the Party, 370 were given disciplinary sanction, 26 will face lawsuits, and 41 face other forms of punishment.

The bureau and its branches investigated and checked safety work in 3,997 mines across the province, helping clear up 15,412 hidden safety risks.

The bureau ordered nine collieries to suspend production and urged local mines to strengthen worker training on safety awareness and dealing with possible risks.

Three coal mines were closed due to accidents.

(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2005)