Safety risk assessments a focus of investigation

Wednesday is the seventh day after the deadly explosions in Tianjin, North China. On this traditional day of mourning for the dead, the central government has reiterated its promise of a thorough investigation to identify the cause of the accident and those who should be held responsible.

One of the key questions the investigators will need to answer is how Ruihai International Logistics Co, the warehouse operator, passed the required safety risk assessment as well as annual inspection for its storage of large amounts of dangerous chemicals, such as several hundred metric tons of sodium cyanide, at the site.

Reporters have repeatedly asked this question at the local government's news conferences and have been told that there were no problems with the assessment. Yet the fact is 114 people are known to have died and 70 people are still missing after hazardous chemicals stored in the warehouse exploded.