Among the arrested were an investor and the head of the Xinfeng mine in Henan province where the 37 miners died after inhaling gas fumes on Sept 21, Xinhua news agency said.

The seven other arrested mining officials were in charge of safety, technology and production at the mine, it said.

Seven other people have been detained for questioning, it added.

According to Xinhua, the mine had been ordered to suspend production on Sept 15 and undergo renovation, but the operators kept the mine working illegally.

China's coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world, with safety standards often ignored in the quest for profits and the drive to meet surging demand for coal - the source of about 70 per cent of the country's energy. -- AFP