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28 March 2024

Eight held over Shanghai blaze that left 53 dead

Published
By AFP

Chinese police detained eight people on Tuesday after accusing welders of sparking a fire in a Shanghai high-rise that killed 53 people, as anxious relatives searched for news of missing loved ones.


The blaze raged for several hours on Monday, causing panicked residents to jump from the inferno or seek refuge on rickety construction scaffolding surrounding the building as thick smoke spread above China's commercial hub.


Police were holding eight people in connection with the fire after an initial investigation indicated unlicenced welders were responsible, Cheng Jiulong, Shanghai Public Security Bureau spokesman told a news conference.


"We detained eight people on suspicion of criminal negligence causing a serious accident," Cheng said, without giving further details.


Authorities will thoroughly investigate the fire and punish anyone responsible, China's Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu was quoted by the official Xinhua news agency as saying.


Officials told reporters they expected to complete the search of the building late Tuesday.


"I've been waiting since last night. I don't know when I can see my mother," Yang Bo, 32, said, after scouring hospitals in the area for his 65-year-old mother. Yang had sped to the city from neighbouring Jiangsu province after hearing of the fire on Monday.


He said he was joined by angry crowds at each hospital, where relatives demanded information about their loved ones but were turned away from morgues, with officials saying they must first obtain government permission to enter.


The 28-storey building -- in one of the most densely populated districts of the city of nearly 20 million people -- was under renovation when the fire broke out in mid-afternoon.
The fire was the city's worst in years, the Shanghai Daily said, without giving further details.


Deadly fires are common in China due to lax observation and enforcement of fire safety measures.