Investigators blame company, local government for fatal blast

The team investigating an explosion at Kunshan Zhongrong Metal Products on Saturday said on Monday that the explosion was a major liability accident, for which the company's leaders and the local government should take responsibility.

The investigation team, headed by Yang Dongliang, director of the State Administration of Work Safety, said the company's leaders, including Wu Jitao, chairman of the board, should take major responsibility for the incident. It also blamed the local government for its lack of supervision.

The team confirmed that the explosion was triggered when a flame was lit in the dust-filled wheel-polishing workshop.

The explosion, which took place on Saturday, by Monday morning had claimed 71 lives and injured more than 180. 

China factory blast reveals lax safety measures at work sites	Death toll of factory blast in E China rises to 75