Photo taken on Aug. 15, 2015 shows a scene of the warehouse explosion site in Tianjin, north China. (CNS photo/Tong Yu)
China's procuratorate has opened investigations into 25 people suspected of dereliction of duty and abuse of power over the deadly blasts in north China's port city Tianjin last year.
Yu Shiping, procurator general with the Tianjin People's Procuratorate, said on Tuesday that police also arrested another 22, including board chairman Yu Xuewei and vice board chairman Dong Shexuan of Tianjin Ruihai International Logistics Co. Ltd., owner of the hazardous materials warehouse that exploded.
"The accident reflected loopholes in production safety in Tianjin. We have learned our lesson," said Huang Xingguo, mayor of Tianjin.
On Aug. 12, two explosions ripped through a warehouse storing hazardous chemicals and residences at Tianjin Port. The blasts claimed 173 lives, including 104 firefighters.
