The municipal government in Shiyan, where Sunday’s blast occurred, stated in a communique that an investigation revealed serious faults in the handling, safety and operations of equipment of the Dongfeng Zhongran City Gas Company.

The text specified that the detained workers did not inspect the gas pipeline in accordance with rules.

The explosion took place inside a market and caused extensive damages to a residential community.

China’s Ministry of Emergency Management sent a team of experts to Shiyan to guide the rescue works, and President Xi Jinping urged maximum efforts and called to punish those responsible for the incident.

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