HOHHOT – A total of 62 people have been held accountable over a January explosion at a steel plant in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region that killed 10 people and injured 84 others, according to an investigation report released on Sunday.
The report, released by the regional emergency management department, said the blast occurred at 3:01 pm on Jan 18 at a plate plant of Baogang United Steel in Baotou city. It was identified as “a major workplace safety liability accident,” with the direct cause traced to long-term corrosion and stress damage to a spherical tank.
The damage eventually caused the tank wall to rupture, leading to a leak and subsequent explosion.
Seven employees of the plant have been arrested on suspicion of criminal offenses. Another six were advised for referral to judicial authorities for further investigation, the report said.
Four companies involved in the accident have received administrative penalties, while officials and entities at city and district levels have been ordered to submit written self-examinations to their higher authorities.