Several officials were suspended from their posts and held responsible for a coal mine accident that killed 17 people earlier this month in southwest China's Guizhou Province, local authorities said Monday.

Long Yunhe, deputy director of the Commission of Industry and Information Technology of Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Qiannan, and Mo Jichun, deputy head of Libo County, were suspended from their offices for lax supervision, according to sources with the prefecture government.

The head of the town of Lihua, where the accident happened, was also suspended from office, sources with the publicity department of Libo County said.

A coal mine in Lihua was hit by a coal and gas outburst on Oct. 4, killing 17 miners working in the shaft.

An initial investigation found that the mine did not meet safety standards for operation, but had obtained approval from relevant supervisory bodies, according to an announcement released by the State Administration of Work Safety.

Further investigation is underway.