China prosecutes port chief over Tianjin blasts

China today removed the general director of Tianjin Port Group and is preparing to prosecute him for negligence, leading to an explosion that killed 160 people.

General Director of Tianjin Port Group Zheng Qingyue. Photo: SCMP

People cited information on the Tianjin government website saying that General Director Zheng Qingyao, his assistant Li Hongfeng and deputy head of the safety supervision department of Zheng Shuguo Group are currently under investigation and face criminal prosecution for negligence.

Tianjin Port Group has been accused of negligence in its supervision. Tianjin Port has blamed Ruihai Shipping Company, which owns a warehouse in Tianjin Port where the explosion occurred, for operating illegally and violating safety regulations by storing dangerous chemicals on the prohibited storage list.

Tianjin is the world’s 10th busiest port, not far from the capital Beijing. The explosion on August 12 left more than 160 people dead, more than 700 injured, 60 missing and thousands evacuated.

Authorities confirmed that the warehouse that exploded held more than 700 tons of sodium cyanide, which can be deadly. Fires were still burning there days after the explosion.

According to VNE