HEFEI, Dec. 23 -- A total of 42 people have been penalized over a fatal coal mine blast that claimed 27 lives in Huainan City in east China's Anhui Province on Aug. 19, the Anhui Coal Mine Safety Supervision Bureau has announced.

An explosion that ripped through the Dongfang Mine shaft on Aug. 19 killed 27 workers and injured one, causing direct economic losses of over 45 million yuan.

Among the 42 people who have been penalized, 21 have been transferred to judicial organs for their alleged crimes, 20 received punishments for violating Party and administrative discipline, and another one received administrative punishment, according to the bureau's announcement issued on Monday evening.

An investigation showed that the mine was operating illegally at the time of the incident. Although the mine was officially licensed, the city government had issued production suspension orders for all coal mines beginning on June 30 as part of a flood prevention effort.

The Dongfang mine's license has been suspended and illegal income has been confiscated, the bureau said.