Two principal suspects responsible for covering up a coal mine gas explosion which killed 12 miners have been detained in Handan City of Hebei Province, north China, police said Tuesday.

One detainee was Yu Jiacheng, a foreman who fled when the case was being investigated, was arrested, and the other, Zhang Yuliang, deputy head of the Hongda Coal Mine surrendered to the police.

According to the police, the two detainees are directly involved in covering up the accident. They offered a compensation of 80,000 yuan (US$9,638) for each victim and told their family members not to disclose the accident to others, especially the press and promised to give them more money after the case was settled smoothly with their cooperation.

Investigation showed that the explosion, which occurred June 3 in the Hongda Coal Mine killed 12 miners However, the mine's chief Ma Dengfeng ordered to hide the truth to avoid "big trouble." Under his direction, the management reported to higher authorities only one death and 23 injuries, and incinerated the remains of 11 other victims secretly.

The provincial bureau on supervision of production safety has decided to carry out a thorough check-up on whether there are cases of covering up accidents in the province.

In a recent circular issued by the bureau, production safety supervision departments at all levels must rush to the site to investigate and organize rescue operations immediately after they receive the report of an accident.

A province-wide check-up on coal mine safety will also be carried out and small coal mines operating without authorization will be closed down.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2004)