(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-11 20:49

Taiyuan -- The mayor of Linfen City in north China's Shanxi Province issued a public letter of apology on Tuesday, nearly one week after an explosion in a local coal mine which resulted in 105 deaths and injuries of 18 others.

A mother holding her child grieves as she waits for the news of her loved one trapped underground after a gas blast at a coal mine in the Hongtong County of Linfen, North China's Shanxi Province, December 6, 2007. [Newsphoto]

"As mayor of Linfen, I feel grieved and guilty because the explosion killed so many people and caused such great losses," Mayor Li Tiantai's apology letter said.

"On behalf of the city government, I would like to extend heartfelt condolences to the deceased miners and apologize to their families," the letter read.

He said that the tragedy, which made it hard for him to sleep, had reflected security loopholes in the city's coal mining industry.

Li pledged to ensure radical change in the safety situation in the city's coal mines and crack down on the illegal coal mine industry.

On Monday, Shanxi Province ordered all illegally-operated coal mines to close in response to the fatal December 5 gas explosion in the mine. Police said they had detained 35 people alleged to be linked to the accident.

The mine owner, who reportedly fled, is being sought by authorities.