Spontaneous combustion of substandard explosives led to the
hospital blast that has so far left 32 people dead in north China's
Shanxi Province, the provincial police said
Monday.
Their probe shows that the substandard explosives contained
chlorate, which easily produces heat when mixed with other elements
and finally causes combustion, a source with the Shanxi Provincial
Public Security Department said.
The blast occurred at around 2:25?AM last Monday at the
staff hospital affiliated to the Xuangang Coal and Electricity
Company in Yuanping. A two-storey hospital building and several
adjacent small houses were flattened in the accident.
Thirty people remain in hospital, according to the
department.
Two suspects, Wang Jinsheng, an administrative officer of the
hospital, and his chauffeur Wang Guohua confessed to police last
Thursday. Another suspect surnamed Xing, who allegedly helped to
transport the explosives, has also been detained by police.
A police statement said Wang Jinsheng admitted storing more than
two tons of explosives in a garage of the hospital with the help of
Wang Guohua. Wang bought explosives for use in his private coal
mine,
Police are still looking for, Qi Er, who they say sold the
explosives to Wang.
Compensation for the victims' relatives is being worked out,
according to local government and company sources.
(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2006)