China names new party head for city in which 173 died

By Mahmut Atanur

BEIJING (AA) – A new Communist Party of China (CPC) secretary has been appointed to a northern port city where massive warehouse explosions left 173 people dead last year.

State news agency Xinhua reported that a statement released by the CPC’s Central Committee on Tuesday also said that Tianjin’s mayor Huang Xingguo, who also served as its acting Party chief and deputy Party chief, had been removed from his posts.

Li Hongzhong has taken over as appointed secretary of the CPC’s Tianjin Municipal Committee.

The country’s top anti-graft body had revealed over the weekend that Huang was placed under investigation for suspected "serious disciplinary violations" -- a euphemism commonly used to refer to corruption.

More than 100 firefighters were killed in the Aug. 12, 2015 explosions at the warehouse that damaged two nearby residential compounds and scorched more than 3,000 new vehicles in a parking area.

Around 40 substances, including sodium cyanide, potassium nitrate and ammonium nitrate were being kept at the site. Inflammable materials accounted for 500 tons and highly toxic substances for 700 tons.

Following the incident, more than a dozen officials and port executives were accused of neglecting the transportation, management and storage of dangerous chemicals, with over 10 suspects detained in relation to the illegal storing of dangerous materials at the warehouse.

In September last year, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said specific charges included: issuing illegal business licenses, illegally approving the storage of dangerous chemicals, opening a green way to an unqualified company and reportedly indulging in illegal activities.