Seven people accused of being responsible for last week's mine blast in Tangshan, Hebei province , that killed 91 people were detained yesterday, Xinhua reported.
Zhu Wenyou, owner of the Liuguantun mine, was detained along with the operation's legal representative, production chief, technology chief, safety director and two gas inspectors.
Seventeen miners were still listed as missing yesterday.
State Administration of Work Safety director Li Yizhong, State Administration of Coal Mine Safety Supervision chief Zhao Tiechui and provincial officials are still organising rescue and recovery efforts.
An initial investigation found that a mixture of airborne coal dust and colourless, methane-laden gas ignited, causing the blast.
The Liuguantun explosion was the third in a string of coal mine accidents on the mainland during the past two weeks that claimed at least 245 lives. Authorities have yet to announce whether 42 miners trapped for nine days in a flooded mine in Xinan county, Henan , have survived.