An explosion in October that killed 11 people and injured that many more has led to the arrest Monday of key executives with a gas bottling company in the Dominican Republic.

Flames engulfed the plant and surrounding homes when leaking gas ignited at a Coopegas propane station in Licey, Santiago Province. Prosecutors blame the incident on the mechanical failure of three safety valves.

The fatalities include a newborn infant.

The Dominican Today newspaper identified the executives as Héctor Ramón Vásquez Sandoval, general manager; Aurilio Concepción, president; Roberto Antonio Polanco, operations manager, and Emilio Yan, manager of the affected station.

All were charged with negligence in the October 3rd explosion.

Following the deaths, blast, government officials cancelled Coopegas’ permit to operate locations in Valverde, Montecristi and La Victoria. A court magistrate has also alleged that the company defrauded the government by operating its stations under the rules of a cooperative to avoid paying taxes.

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