<Anchor >

killed more than 10 people in an accident while working on a bombing operation at a mine in China last year. However, it turned out that the local government at the time had fabricated the loss of life and even concealed the bodies found in order to avoid responsibility.

Kim Ji-sung is a correspondent in Beijing.

<Reporter> An accident occurred at a mine in
Tangshan City,
Hebei Province, China in September last year.

Water spilled into the shaft during the blasting operation, killing 9 people and leaving one missing.

However, an investigation by the Chinese authorities revealed that local government officials tried to conceal the extent of the damage in the early stages of the accident.

It reported to his superiors that 14 people were trapped in the shaft, but only two.

In addition, it is understood that 1 bodies that have already been recovered at that time have been moved to other places so that rescuers cannot find them.

However, the cover-up attempt was foiled when rescuers who arrived at the scene found the bodies of people other than the two reported.

Investigators said local government officials also tampered with mine entry and exit records and worker lists.

As many as 15 people have been involved in the cover-up.

[Hebei Provincial Safety Production Committee: The safety production responsibility system was not properly implemented, and the systematic concealment of accidents and the obstruction of investigations had an extremely bad effect.]

This is not the first time that local governments in China have minimized and concealed human casualties in order to avoid liability for accidents.

In Zhengzhou, Henan's province, where 2 people were killed or disappeared due to record heavy rains in 12, it was also found that the death toll was reduced and covered up.

Commenting on the cover-up of the mine accident, even China's official journalist urged people to raise awareness, saying, "It's really surprising that so many officials were involved."

The Chinese authorities decided to pursue those involved in the fleeing accident and severely reprimand officials who led or participated in the cover-up.

(Video Interview: Choi Deok-hyun, Video Editing: Oh No-young, CG: Seo Dong-min)