Zhang Heping, deputy director of the Shanxi Provincial Department of Emergency Management, is under investigation in connection with a deadly coal mine gas explosion that killed 82 people and left two others missing, provincial anti-graft authorities said on Wednesday.

Zhang is suspected of serious violations of Party discipline and law related to the May 22 blast at Liushenyu Coal Mine, operated by Shanxi Tongzhou Group in Qinyuan county, Changzhi, according to the Shanxi Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Provincial Supervisory Commission.

The gas explosion occurred at 7:29 pm on May 22 at Liushenyu Coal Mine in Qinyuan county. So far, 82 people have been confirmed dead, two remain missing and 128 have been injured.

After the accident, the State Council set up an investigation team led by the Ministry of Emergency Management. The team also includes officials from the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the National Energy Administration, the National Mine Safety Administration and the Shanxi provincial government.

Zhang, born in June 1968 in Shanxi province, previously worked at Lu'an Chemical Group, one of the province's major coal enterprises. He became assistant mayor of Changzhi in 2009, head of the city's coal industry bureau in 2016 and vice-mayor of Changzhi in 2017.

In 2022, he became deputy director of the Shanxi Provincial Department of Emergency Management, where he was responsible for coal mine safety law enforcement, coal mine geological safety supervision, coal mine ventilation safety supervision and overall workplace safety supervision.

Zhang is the latest official to be investigated in connection with the accident.

Zhao Yongjin, Party chief of Qinyuan county, and Sun Xiaoye, Party secretary and director of the Qinyuan county emergency management bureau, have also been placed under investigation by disciplinary and supervisory authorities.