25 government officials and 24 company managers have been jailed over a series of explosions at a chemical warehouse in the port city of Tianjin in August 2015 that eventually killed more than 165 people, Reuters reports.
The massive explosions had caused losses estimated at more than $1 billion and sparked anger that the structure had been built so close to residential areas.
Furthermore, a government report on the disaster blamed the ignition of hazardous materials that had been improperly or illegally stored at the site.
The court imposed punishments ranging from a 1-1/2 year jail term to a suspended death sentence, which is generally commuted to life in prison. The harshest sentence was handed to the chairman of Tianjin Ruihai International Logistics Co Ltd, which operated the facility, for crimes ranging from the illegal storage of dangerous substances to bribery.
In February, the government said it detained 49 people in connection with the blast.