File photo: VCG

Seven people have been taken into custody due to their connections to the November 4 chemical leak in Quanzhou, according to the press office of the Municipal Government of the Harbor District of Quanzhou.

The seven suspects, three were employees of Fujian Donggang Petrochemical and four were crew members from the tanker which the chemical was loaded to, are suspected for the “major liability accident”.

The two victims that were affected by the leak remain hospitalized on Wednesday and those under observation at the hospital stays unchanged, the press office said.

The incident happened in the early hours on Sunday, November 4, when a tube connecting a tanker to the wharf broke, spilling a total of 6.9 tons of C9 aromatics into the sea.

A chemical used in refining crude oil, C9 is typically used to produce adhesives, printing ink and paint, and is toxic to humans.

(Compiled by Qiao Wai)