A court in southwest China has sentenced nine managers to prison terms of up to seven years after a fatal mine flood that resulted in the death of 22 people, in April last year.

The Qilin District People's Court in Qujing City, Yunnan Province, sentenced the senior employees, including chairman, general manager and chief engineer, of Xiahaizi Coal Mine, of sentences from three to seven years for their role in the fatal accident and illegal mining.

They were also fined from 10,000 yuan (1,634 U.S. dollars) to 300,000 yuan, according to the court ruling on Friday.

On April 7 last year, a flood killed 22 people at the privately-owned Xiahaizi mine. The defendants were also accused of mining beyond the exploitation range specified in the mine's license.