State Council investigators vow thorough probe into deadly blast

An investigation team of the State Council, China's cabinet, has pledged to leave no stones unturned in the probe of the deadly chemical plant explosion in east China's Jiangsu Province.

Rescuers work at the site of an explosion at a chemical industrial park in Xiangshui County of Yancheng, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 22, 2019. The death toll from an explosion in a chemical plant in east China's Jiangsu Province has risen to 64 as of 7 a.m. Saturday, authorities said. [Photo: Xinhua]

The team, led by vice emergency management minister Huang Ming, said Saturday at a meeting that authorities will hold all those behind the fatal blast accountable.

It urged tougher supervision on the production and storage of hazardous chemical substances and strengthened enforcement of safety regulations.

It also ordered a comprehensive check of safety hazards in key sectors including dangerous chemicals, coal mines and road transport and urged solid efforts in preventing major accidents.

The explosion happened at about 2:48 p.m. Thursday following a fire that broke out in a plant owned by Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Co. Ltd., in a chemical industrial park in Xiangshui County in the city of Yancheng.

The death toll from the explosion has risen to 64 as of 7 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

The chemical plant had a history of safety violations and received repeated punishment, but its management failed to amend the illicit practices, which led to the fatal accident, investigators said.