POLICE in Fujian Province has detained a vice president of China's leading gold producer after a toxic spill at one of its copper plants killed thousands of tons of fish.

Zijin Mining Group confirmed yesterday that its Vice President Chen Jiahong has been under detention since Tuesday.

The company was blamed for the industry's worst environmental accident in years.

More than 9,100 cubic meters of acidic waste water spilled from the company's Zijinshan copper mine in Fujian's Shanghang County, polluted the Tingjiang River and killed about 1,900 tons of fish.

The leak took place on July 3, but the company waited nine days before disclosing the accident.

The company said it will provide further details after an investigation is completed.

The head of Shanghang County has been suspended. A vice head of the county has been asked to resign, and the head of the local environmental protection authority was sacked.

The polluting factory's manager, deputy manager and environmental protection officer were also detained earlier for questioning.