Local authorities did not fully perform their duties, and occasionally even abetted or sheltered illegal activities, said Wang Shuhe, deputy director of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, who arrived at the site in the evening to investigate the accident.

Five county-level and township officials, including Wu Guohong, vice head of Puding, Xu Dongfeng, director of Puding's work safety supervision administration, and Hu Yingze, were sacked or were suspended Friday pending an investigation.

Ma Shilong, survivor of the gas outburst, receives treatment in Renmin Hospital of Anshun City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 14, 2010.

Li Renjie, the mine owner, had disappeared after the accident and the police were searching him.

Puding has ordered operations suspended at all collieries and Guizhou will launch a safety survey of coal mines on Saturday.

Five of the 10 survivors are in hospital being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning.

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