Beijing police have detained three people who were held responsible for a workplace accident in which a woman died after she fell into a hot water pipe through a manhole, an investigative report said.

The accident site is cordoned off.

The report was issued after Beijing government authorities said the hot water pipe leaked and eroded the soil under the pavement, causing the manhole lid to collapse under the feet of Yang Erjing, 27, on April 1. Yang suffered severe burns over 99 percent of her body and died on Monday.

The report said the Beijing Oriental Ocean Property Management Co, in charge of the maintenance work in the area, failed to maintain the hot water pipe, causing it to leak.

Three officials with Beijing District Heating Group arrived at the scene after the collapse to shut down the hot water valve, but they failed to take protective measures to prevent passers-by from entering the area where the woman fell, the report said.

Beijing Wanhua Real Estate Co, which owns the building that uses the hot water, failed to erase the hidden danger by warning the property management company to maintain the water pipe, the report said. It has paid 320,000 yuan (US$50,750) for Yang's medical treatment.

The three people detained by police are officials with the heating group and the property management company, Beijing police said.

Related

• Scalded woman dies after fighting for life
• Scalded woman fighting for life

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)