Dong Yongcun, director of the administrative approval department of Tianjin Transport Committee, died on 26 August after falling from the office building.
The reason for his fall is still under investigation and no official statement on Dong’s death from the committee has been released, according to local media.
Ruihai International Logistics, the owner of the warehouse that exploded and cost many lives on 12 August, received the Port Operation License and the Attached Certificate on Operations of Hazardous Goods at Ports from Dong’s department in June 2015.
Before obtaining the certificate, Ruihai International Logistics had been illegally warehousing dangerous chemicals since 10 October 2004.
Investigations from the Supreme People’s Procuratorate showed that Tianjin Transport Committee, as the administration in charge of the management of dangerous chemicals in Tianjin port, had issued an operation licence against relevant regulations, and failed to supervise the misdeeds at Ruihai International Logistics.
At present, 11 officials from various government departments, including three officials from Tianjin Transport Committee, are being investigated for “dereliction of duty” and “abuse of power”, according to a statement from the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.
Twelve suspects from Tianjin Ruihai International Logistics were detained, and police claimed the company and the detainees were suspected of illegally storing dangerous materials. The detainees included board chairman Yu Xuewei, vice board chairman Dong Shexuan, and three deputy general managers.
The death toll from the Tianjin blast on 12 August ago has risen to 139, and 34 others remain missing, rescue authorities said on 26 August.
This post was sourced from IHS Maritime 360: View the original article here.