CHINA’S top procuratorate Thursday announced its investigation into 11 officials and port executives for alleged neglect of duty in the Tianjin warehouse explosions, which killed at least 145 people.

    The officials under investigation include Wu Dai, head of the Tianjin Municipal Transportation Commission, and Zheng Qingyue, president of Tianjin Port (Group) Co. Ltd.

    Wang Jinwen, a senior official with the Ministry of Transport, is also being investigated for suspected abuse of power. He allegedly violated the law to help Tianjin Ruihai International Logistics Co. Ltd., owner of the warehouses where the blasts happened, pass safety evaluations and obtain approval to handle hazardous materials.

    According to a separate statement by the Ministry of Public Security on Thursday, the police have detained 12 suspects.

    Among them are Ruihai’s chairman Yu Xuewei and vice chairman Dong Shexuan, and Zeng Fanqiang, an employee with a safety evaluation firm suspected of illegally helping Ruihai acquire safety evaluation papers.

    Most of the detainees are suspected of illegally storing dangerous materials, the ministry said. Zhi Feng, general manager of Ruihai, and deputy manager Shang Qingsen are under residential surveillance.

    The statement said Tianjin’s transportation management authorities, production safety regulatory agencies, and land and resources authorities, are accountable for the explosions.

    Some Tianjin Customs officers are also suspected of illegally issuing customs clearing permits to Ruihai and allowing it to carry out illegal business activities.

    (Xinhua)