Spontaneous combustion of substandard explosives led to the hospital blast that has so far left 32 people dead in north China's Shanxi Province, the provincial police said Monday.

Their probe shows that the substandard explosives contained chlorate, which easily produces heat when mixed with other elements and finally causes combustion, a source with the Shanxi Provincial Public Security Department said.

The blast occurred at around 2:25 AM last Monday at the staff hospital affiliated to the Xuangang Coal and Electricity Company in Yuanping. A two-storey hospital building and several adjacent small houses were flattened in the accident.

Thirty people remain in hospital, according to the department.

Two suspects, Wang Jinsheng, an administrative officer of the hospital, and his chauffeur Wang Guohua confessed to police last Thursday. Another suspect surnamed Xing, who allegedly helped to transport the explosives, has also been detained by police.

A police statement said Wang Jinsheng admitted storing more than two tons of explosives in a garage of the hospital with the help of Wang Guohua. Wang bought explosives for use in his private coal mine,

Police are still looking for, Qi Er, who they say sold the explosives to Wang.

Compensation for the victims' relatives is being worked out, according to local government and company sources.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2006)