"Graft and trading power for money still exist among a small number of government employees," Li Yizhong, minister of the State Administration of Work Safety, told reporters when asked to explain the reasons for the accidents.

As an example, he cited a probe into a coal mine blast in northern China's Shanxi province last May that killed 28 people.

The investigation found that an inspector with the local safety watchdog had been receiving 1,500 yuan (207 dollars) per month from the mine's owner.

But the problem is greatly compounded by chaotic management of mines by their bosses, the presence of flammable gases in many of China's mines, and low safety awareness among miners, he said.

"A deeper reason... is the lack of training and education of the 5.5 million coal miners, of which 56 percent are migrant workers," Li said during a news conference.

China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal. A surge in coal demand accompanying the nation's economic boom has led to an increase in the number of mining accidents.

Coal mine accidents across the nation took nearly 3,800 lives in 2007, down 20 percent from the year before, according to official figures released earlier this month.

However, independent labour groups have long maintained that China's mining death toll is much higher than the government says, with local bosses and regional leaders covering up accidents to avoid fines and costly shut-downs.

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