Chinese authorities have arrested 11 people for their role in a landslide at an industrial park in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen last month that has left at least 12 dead and 62 others missing.
An investigation into the incident was launched after the government deemed that the Dec. 20 landslide was caused by an oversight of construction safety rules, reported Reuters. The landslide started when a mound of construction waste piled up against a hill collapsed due to heavy rains. Thirty-three buildings were swallowed in its aftermath.
Among those arrested were the representative and a deputy general manager of Shenzhen Yixianglong Investment Development, which ran the site, chief and deputy manager of a company in charge of it, and seven others. All of them were charged with negligently causing a serious accident.
"Those responsible for the incident will be seriously punished in accordance with laws and regulations," said a state investigation team, according to CNN.
These arrests reportedly come three days after state media reported that police were taking "coercive measures" against 12 people. These 11 are believed to be among those that police were investigating.
One person, identified by Chinese media as Xu Yuan'an, reportedly jumped to his death at the site of the landfill one week after the landslide, reported the Associated Press. He was later determined to be the former director of the Urban District Administrative Enforcement Bureau whose role would place him in charge of regulating the dump, however, it is unclear if he was the 12th person being investigation.
As the investigation continues, the police and public have been encouraged to help track down other suspects related to what the government has deemed a "man-made disaster."
