Eight detained over deadly gas blast

Eight suspects were detained over gas explosion that killed 25 people in Shiyan, Hubei province, the information office of Shiyan city said on Friday.

The accident, which occurred on Sunday morning at a two-story marketplace in a residential community in Zhangwan district of Shiyan, left more than 100 people injured.

The provincial government has set up a team to investigate the blast. Shiyan police are also investigating the incident.

According to preliminary findings, the police detained eight suspects including general manager of a local gas company in charge of the natural gas pipeline where the accident occurred.

The company's safety management system was not fullproof, the responsibility was not clearly defined, the gas pipeline inspection system was not strictly implemented, and there were serious defects in the operation of relevant equipment, it said.