BEIJING
China has accused 11 officials and port executives of neglecting the transportation, management and storage of dangerous chemicals at a northern port city where 139 people lost their lives in an explosion.
State news agency Xinhua quoted a statement from the Supreme People's Procuratorate as saying Thursday that officials from various government departments were probed for "dereliction of duty" and "abuse of power."
Specific charges included issuing illegal business licenses; illegally approving the storage of dangerous chemicals; opening a green way to an unqualified company and reportedly indulging in illegal activities.
Xinhua reported that the 11 have been placed under compulsive measures, which include summons by force, bail, residential surveillance, detention and arrest.
Prosecuted officials include the head of Tianjin Municipal Transportation Commission, and Zheng Qingyue, president of Tianjin Port Holdings Co., Ltd.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Public Security, police have also detained 12 suspects in relation to the illegal storing of dangerous materials in a warehouse that exploded Aug. 12, devastating Tianjin.
The warehouse -- owned by Rui Hai International Logistics Co. – had been storing hundreds of tons of hazardous chemicals when the explosions occurred, damaging two nearby residential compounds and scorching over 3,000 new vehicles in a parking area.
Around 40 substances, including sodium cyanide, potassium nitrate and ammonium nitrate were being kept at the site. Inflammable materials accounted for 500 tons and highly toxic substances for 700 tons.
According to the Tianjin Information Office, the blasts have so far claimed 139 lives, including 84 firefighters.
As of Wednesday, 34 people remained missing, while 527 people remained hospitalized.
Of those, 10 are reported to be in a critical condition.
