News / China

China detains nine over construction accident in Jiangxi

Monday, 28 November 2016 9:54 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 28 November 2016 9:57 AM ]

This image shows a cooling tower at a power station where an accident killed 74 workers, in Fengcheng, in China’s Jiangxi Province, a day after the accident, November 25, 2016. (By AFP)

Chinese authorities have arrested nine people over a deadly industrial accident at a Chinese power plant that killed 74 people last week.

Nine people are facing criminal charges in connection with the deadly construction accident, which occurred in east China’s Jiangxi Province, police said Monday.

The arrests were announced a day after Chinese authorities told safety watchdogs nationwide to launch thorough work safety checking to resolutely curb accidents and plug the holes in safety standards.

The call by the State Administration of Work Safety urged local authorities to earnestly carry out the orders by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

The industrial accident happened on Thursday morning in Fengcheng during work on a cooling tower for a coal-fired power plant.

This image shows the remains of a collapsed platform in a cooling tower at a power station at Fengcheng, in China’s Jiangxi province, a day after the collapse, November 25, 2016. (By AFP)

A tower crane collapsed during the incident, bringing down the entire construction platform.

Among the nine people arrested were the chairman of Hebei Yineng Tower Engineering.

Xinhua said the nine were suspected of “major liability” in the accident and would face criminal charges, but gave no other details other than that the probe was continuing.

Industrial accidents are relatively common in China, which has been witnessing three decades of swift economic growth. Last year, several blasts in the port city of Tianjin killed more than 170 people.

Shortly after those explosions, the director of the State Administration of Work Safety was removed from his post.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk