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Baotou Steel blast investigation cites corrosion leak and safety failures
The official report said debris from the explosion fell within a 5 km radius, disrupting local rail services.
An official report released in China’s Inner Mongolia region blamed a deadly explosion earlier this year at a Baotou steel plant on a leak caused by corrosion, according to SCMP Economy. The blast at the Baotou Steel Group plant killed 10 people and injured 84, with authorities citing failures related to vessel condition and safety oversight.
The Inner Mongolian emergency management department said the accident reflected deficiencies in the steam storage pressure vessel design, inadequate daily maintenance, and safety management problems. It also pointed to improper on-site emergency response, and it criticized local authorities in Baotou and the Kundulun district for shortcomings in regulatory duties.
SCMP Economy reported that the blast debris was scattered over a 5 km (3 mile) radius and disrupted local rail services after debris fell on tracks. The report recommended disciplinary action against 62 people, including local officials.
Prosecutors in Kundulun approved the arrest of seven plant employees, and recommended further investigations into six other people, SCMP Economy added. The report also said Baotou Steel Group and other firms involved in the project were penalised, and that local authorities submitted a written self-criticism to higher levels of government.