AFP reported that police have detained the duty manager at an illegal coal mine in southwest China after he staged a fake escape from an accident that killed 34 workers.

A local official told AFP that Mr Qi Guming smudged coal dust on his face and told investigators he had used a tunnel to escape from the pit where another nine workers remain trapped four days after the accident.

According to China National Radio, Mr Qi was actually asleep and not inside the mine when a blast of coal and gas took place early Thursday morning in the mine in China's Yunnan province. He was supposed to be the duty manager for the night shift.

A spokeswoman for the city of Qujing where the mine is located said "Mr Qi Guming wasn't in the mine when the accident happened."

The official surnamed Mr Zhou said "Afterward, he made his face dirty and lied to the rescue group. The police have made this clear."

Coal mine accidents are common in China where work safety is often neglected by bosses seeking a quick profit. To try to minimize accidents, authorities ruled recently that at least one manager must be in the pit when work is going on.

According to official statistics Last year, 2,433 people died in coal mining accidents in the country a rate of more than six workers per day but labour rights groups say the true figure may be much higher.

(Sourced from AFP)