Officials dismissed after fatal colliery accident

Several officials have been removed from their posts over a colliery accident that killed 10 miners earlier this month in central China's Hunan Province, local authorities said Tuesday.

As well as those who died, 15 others were injured in a colliery gas explosion at around 7:50 p.m. on June 2 at the Simachong coal mine in Shaodong County of the Zhouguanqiao Township, Shaoyang City.

Local officials, including the deputy county head who was in charge of coal mine safety, the director and a deputy director of the county's coal authorities and two township officials have been removed from office.

Investigations showed that illegal production and operation was blamed for the accident. The production license of the coal mine had expired at the end of 2012.