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Local party chief probed after 82 killed in Chinese mining tragedy

By Thomson Reuters Jun 2, 2026 | 9:55 AM

BEIJING, June 2 (Reuters) – A party chief in the northern coal-rich Chinese ​province of Shanxi is ‌under investigation over “suspected serious violations of discipline and law”, the local anti-graft agency said ‌on ​Tuesday, after ⁠a mining tragedy ⁠last month that killed at least 82.

Zhao Yongjin, the top official of Qinyuan ​county, “is currently undergoing disciplinary review and a ⁠supervisory investigation by ⁠the provincial discipline ​inspection and supervision commission,” a ​statement showed.

An initial probe into ‌the deadliest mining accident in China since 2009 has uncovered concealed mining ⁠tunnels, falsified drawings and outsourced and unregistered miners, who had not ⁠been ‌provided with required ⁠life-saving location trackers.

The ​government ‌has pledged to leave ​no ⁠stone unturned in rooting out the cause of the incident.

(Reporting by Xiuhao Chen and Ryan WooEditing by ​Gareth Jones)