Guangzhou warehouse blast death toll rises to 8

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Guangzhou warehouse blast death toll rises to 8

(Xinhua) 08:12, September 12, 2013

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The death toll from a warehouse explosion in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, rose to eight as of Wednesday evening, local police said.

Seven people who are suspected to be responsible for the explosion have been under investigation, according to a statement from the Guangzhou municipal government.

A thorough safety overhaul has been launched across the city in the wake of the blast, it said.

The blast happened at 11:50 a.m. on Tuesday in a roadside storehouse in Guangzhou's Baiyun District, when workers were unloading goods from a container truck. A total of 36 people, including 11 children, were injured.

The eight dead worked as loaders, the police said.

An investigation showed the goods unloaded were bullets with powder for toy pistols, the production and circulation of which are forbidden in China, the municipal government said in a press release.

The press release called the explosion "an accident," saying loads of bullets exploded in the truck container, and then the explosion ignited goods in a storehouse room.

Three people, including a Jordanian, the owner of the goods, have been detained by police.

Rescuers are still clearing the site and residue of exploded bullets is visible.

The injured are in stable condition. As of Wednesday night, 17 people with minor injuries have been discharged from hospital.

The Zengbao Warehouse, which covers an area of 8,000 square meters, is mainly used to store shoes, clothes, hardware and electrical appliances.

Worker Fan Zengyin was about 50 meters away from where the explosion occurred. His son, Fan Zukun, also a worker at the warehouse, was killed in the blast.

"Most of the people working here are migrant workers. The business is open to everyone. Once a vehicle arrives here, we come up for a job and get paid a piece rate. My son worked here for about 20 days," Fan said.

"Usually, goods are wrapped in sacks. We have no idea what is inside, nor are we allowed to pry," he said.

The warehouse, separated into 110 sections, has been open for business since 2005. Regular renters include foreigners, said He Shunqiang, a local official.

The storehouse is subject to a safety examination at least once a month, He said.