China's cabinet today launched a probe into the worst industrial accident in the country that killed at least 114 people even as authorities struggled to to treat thousands of tonnes of contaminated water near the busy Tianjin port.
A statement issued by the State Council said the team will "give a responsible answer" to the ruling Communist Party and the people, and that those found to be responsible will be given serious punishment.
It said the team has already started its investigation in accordance with regulations on management of dangerous chemicals and on workplace safety, though it did not say when the team will announce any conclusions, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Headed by Executive Vice Minister of Public Security Yang Huanning, the team will "define the nature and gravity of the accident, and determine liability," a statement said.
The investigators will also advise on punishment.
The team will conduct its work under the leadership of the State Council. The Ministry of Public Security will oversee the investigation and officials from central governmental agencies and the Tianjin municipal government, as well as prosecutors from the Supreme People's Procuratorate, will also be involved.
"Independent experts" have been invited to join, the State Council said.
The death toll in the last Wednesday explosions, which wreaked havoc stood at 114. Fifty-seven people mostly fire fighters were still unaccounted for. Over 690 people are hospitalised.
The warehouse at Tianjin had stored 3,000 tonnes of toxic chemicals.
Thousands of tonnes of contaminated water at Tianjin Port, the site of two massive warehouse explosions needs to be treated, over fears that rain may exacerbate the problem, China's State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said today.
Also, minute traces of cyanide, at 0.00103 mg/L, have been detected, a decrease from the density of previous day, which the SOA said does not pose a threat to the marine environment, Xinhua reported.
The findings were based on monitoring reports from yesterday, according to the SOA.
Also volatile phenol has been detected at four sites, with a varied amounts of density.
Two explosions ripped through a warehouse storing hundreds of tons of toxic chemicals, including roughly 700 tonnes of sodium cyanide, last Wednesday night.
