China: Final death toll from warehouse blasts at 173

BEIJING 

Authorities in a northern Chinese port city have set the final death toll from explosions at a warehouse at 173 due to the likely deaths of eight victims who remain missing a month later.

The China Daily reported Sunday that the Tianjin government’s information office said the deaths would be declared by courts in districts where the missing people - many of them firefighters - were last known to have resided.

The civil affairs department of the Binhai New Area, where the destroyed warehouse is located, has pledged that the more than 100 firefighters who died at the site would be compensated and recognized.

A total of 165 people, including 11 policemen, were recorded to have died in the Aug. 12 blasts.

Hundreds of others injured in the incident remain hospitalized.

The blasts at the warehouse - owned by Rui Hai International Logistics Co.- had damaged two nearby residential compounds and scorched more than 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.

At least 11 officials and port executives have been accused of neglecting the transportation, management and storage of dangerous chemicals following the incident.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate said earlier this month that 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.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Public Security, police have also detained more than 10 suspects in relation to the illegal storing of dangerous materials at the warehouse.