Harbin, April 3 -- A total of 43 individuals should be punished for their roles in a deadly coal mine accident and subsequent cover-up in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, an investigation report revealed Thursday.
The accident occurred on Dec. 20, 2023, in the Kunyuan coal mine in the city of Jixi, leaving 12 dead and 13 others injured.
The accident resulted from illegal mining using improper equipment with damaged wires, which snapped under overload conditions while workers illegally rode cargo trains, according to the report released by the investigation team organized by the provincial government.
Following the accident, the mine operator deliberately concealed it, hid the victims' bodies, and destroyed evidence instead of repor...