Authorities in east China's Shandong Province said Thursday the owner of a logistics service had been detained at home because of a chemical explosion which killed 18 people Wednesday.

An investigation into the chemical explosion is under way, and Lin Huaqing, owner of Yunheng Logistics Service Center, was on hand to help with enquiries, said a spokesman of the Linyi City Police in Shandong, Thursday.

An explosion occurred at about 4 p.m. Wednesday as workers from Lin's company were unloading a lacquer-curing agent from a truck at Jinlan Logistics Town in Lanshan District, Linyi. Lin's company is sited inside Jinlan Logistics Town.

Seven people died at the scene and 11 others died of injuries in hospital. Of those 14 were women.

Ten more were only slightly injured and sent to hospital.

Most of the victims were personnel working at Jinlan, said the investigation team.

The main ingredients in the agent are xylene and butyl acetate, each both inflammable and poisonous.

The ensuing fire caused by the explosion was put out by 4:30 p.m.. Altogether 26 fire engines and 91 firefighters were sent to the scene.

Tests showed the accident had not caused air or water pollution, said the Linyi Environmental Protection Bureau.

The local government has started safety checks in factories across the city. Those that are potentially dangerous will be closed, officials said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2009)