XIANGSHUI — An investigation team of the State Council, China’s cabinet, has pledged to leave no stones unturned in the probe of the deadly chemical plant explosion in East China’s Jiangsu province.

The team, led by vice emergency management minister Huang Ming, said on March 23 at a meeting that authorities will hold all those behind the fatal blast accountable.

It urged tougher supervision on the production and storage of hazardous chemical substances and strengthened enforcement of safety regulations.

It also ordered a comprehensive check of safety hazards in key sectors including dangerous chemicals, coal mines and road transport and urged solid efforts in preventing major accidents.

The explosion happened at about 2:48 pm on March 21 following a fire that broke out in a plant owned by Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Co Ltd, in a chemical industrial park in Xiangshui county in the city of Yancheng.

The death toll from the explosion has risen to 64 as of 7 am on March 23, authorities said.

The chemical plant had a history of safety violations and received repeated punishment, but its management failed to amend the illicit practices, which led to the fatal accident, investigators said.