The spontaneous combustion of substandard explosives led to the
hospital blast that has so far left 32 people dead in north China's
Shanxi Province, provincial police said on
Monday.
Investigations show that the explosives contained chlorate,
which easily produces heat when mixed with other elements and
finally leads to combustion, a source with the Shanxi Provincial
Public Security Department said.
The blast occurred at about 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.
30 people are still recovering in hospital.
Two suspects, Wang Jinsheng, an administrative officer of the
hospital to whom the explosives belonged, and his chauffeur Wang
Guohua surrendered to police last Thursday. Another suspect
surnamed Xing, who allegedly helped to transport the explosives,
has also been detained by police.
According to a police statement, Wang Jinsheng admitted to
storing more than two tons of explosives in a hospital garage with
the help of Wang Guohua. Wang had bought the explosives for use in
his private coalmine.
Police are still looking for a fourth person by the name of Qi
Er, who they say sold the explosives to Wang.
In the meantime, compensation for the victims' relatives is
being worked out, according to local government and company
sources.
(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2006)