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HOHHOT, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-two people responsible for a coal mine blast in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have been handed prison sentences and fines, local courts announced on Friday.

A gas explosion occurred at a coal mine in the city of Chifeng on Dec. 3, 2016, resulting in 32 dead, 20 injured, and a direct economic loss of nearly 44 million yuan (around 6.6 million U.S. dollars).

Twenty-two people from the mining company received prison terms ranging from 26 months to 13 years for the crimes of causing a major-liability accident, illegal mining, or helping to destroy evidence, while 10 officials were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 21 months to 15 years for dereliction of duty, accepting and offering bribes, or embezzlement of public fund.

They also received fines from 20,000 yuan to 5 million yuan.