Three people with the Sichuan Petroleum Administration have been arrested in connection with the Kaixian gas field explosion that left 243 dead last month.

Wang Jiandong, an engineer with the Drilling Technology Research Institute under Sichuan Petroleum Administration, Xiang Yiming, the site's deputy chief drilling operator and technician Song Tao of the East Sichuan Drilling Company were all arrested over the weekend.

Wang is accused of asking workers to remove a necessary blowout prevention valve without permission of Song on December 21.

Song is accused of failing to stop Wang while being aware the action violated operating rules, and could lead to an accident.

Xiang is charged of failing to meet standards during drilling operations.

The standard requires workers to pump mud into the drilling well once after every three sections of drilling materials are lifted out. But Xiang refueled the well every six sections, upsetting the pressure balance.

The three are suspected of negligently causing a serious accident, as stipulated in the Criminal Law, according to police.

Meanwhile, Kaixian officials said on Saturday that a monument will be erected for the 243 people who lost their lives in the disaster.

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