The arrested people include chairman of Tianjin International Ruihai Logistics Co Ltd chairman Yu Xuewei, vice-chairman Dong <g data-gr-id="25">Shexuan</g> and its three deputy general managers who were “criminally detained”.
The death toll from the Tianjin warehouse explosions on Thursday rose to 145 with 28 others still missing, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
China’s cabinet has promised a rigorous and thorough investigation into the deadly blasts that ripped through a warehouse on August 12 in the northern port city of Tianjin where hundreds of tonnes of toxic chemicals were stored, including around 700 tonnes of sodium cyanide.
Five teams deployed by the State Council have been assigned to investigate the cause, accountability and institutional loopholes that led to the fatal explosions. The cabinet said its top priority was to ensure the investigation was both timely and accurate.
Meanwhile, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate said that prosecutors were also probing 11 officials for “abuse of power” and “dereliction of duty” over the blasts, which also injured hundreds of people.
The officials worked in the transport ministry in Tianjin’s city government, the port authority and customs.
More than 500 people remain in hospital after the huge explosions, which also seriously damaged two residential compounds nearby and gutted more than 3,000 new cars in a parking area close to the site.