Three stand trial for deadly factory blast

Three executives at a factory that exploded in east China's Jiangsu Province last August stood trial Tuesday on charges of causing major safety accident.

Wu Jitao, president of Kunshan Zhongrong Metal Products Co., Ltd, was tried along with the company's general manager Lin Bochang and manager Wu Shengxian at the Kunshan People's Court in Kunshan City.

Official investigations showed that serious dereliction of duty was behind the accident. The fatal accident was caused by illegal production,construction and substandard facility installment, as well as patchy safety management at the factory, according to investigators.

The court will announce a verdict soon.

The blast on Aug. 2 gutted a wheel hub polishing workshop in Kunshan and left 146 dead. The three executives were arrested after the accident.