The wreckage of a carriage is lifted from the accident scene one day after the July 23 train crash in Wenzhou, China.54 people will face disciplinary action, the Chinese government saysSome railway officials have been firedThe July 23 crash killed 40 peopleMany Chinese believed the government engaged in a coverup after the crash Beijing (CNN) -- The Chinese government will punish 54 people for their roles in a train crash in July that killed 40 people, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported Wednesday.
An investigation blamed flaws in the train's operation control system and an inadequate emergency response by railway authorities, the report said.
China's Cabinet agreed to take disciplinary action at an executive meeting on Wednesday.
Among those named are Liu Zhijun, the country's former railway minister, and Zhang Shuguang, the railway ministry's deputy chief engineer, who were fired over an alleged "severe violation of discipline" earlier this year, Xinhua reported.
A government report posted online described Zhijun and Shuguang as the main culprits responsible for the crash, but did not explain why.
The report also said three top railway officials were dismissed -- Guangzhou Railway Group Chairman Xu Xiaoming, China Railway Signal & Communication Deputy General Manager Miao Weizhong, and Railway Signal Design Institute Chairman Zhang Haifeng. The report blamed them for violations linked to the incident.
The government report also named dozens of officials who could face punishment, and it said some investigations are ongoing.
Authorities are still looking into whether to charge anyone criminally, the government report said.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao oversaw the meeting with investigators who revealed results of the months-long probe.
After the July 23 crash, there was widespread public anger at the government, with many Chinese people alleging corruption, a coverup, and abuse of power.