Top procuratorate probes blast at explosives plant

BEIJING - China's top procuratorate is investigating whether duty-related crimes may have contributed to a deadly blast at an explosives plant in East China, Xinhua learned Monday.

The explosion occurred on May 20 inside a three-story workshop of a plant owned by Poly Explosives (Jinan) Co Ltd in Zhangqiu city, Shandong province. Thirty-three people died in the accident, most of whom were plant employees.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate has sent four procurators to join staff from local procuratorate in focusing on investigating issues regarding the supervision and management of relevant departments, possible instances of dereliction of duty and abuse of power, and whether the plant neglected manufacturing security and allowed risky operations, it revealed.

The four procurators will also cooperate with local government departments to determine the cause of the blast and assess losses.