China says welders caused tower fire, killing 53
- 14 years ago
Chinese police have arrested eight people after a Shanghai apartment fire claimed at least 53 lives.
The incident which gutted a 28-storey high-rise in China's busy commercial hub is being blamed on unlicensed welding,
The swift steps to assign blame for the fire that swept up the 85m-high building show how worried officials are keen to ease alarm among residents across the city.
China's rapid urban growth is throwing up vast numbers of new high-rise buildings, and while major fire disasters have been relatively rare compared to other developing countries, safety maintenance can be lacking.
As well as 53 confirmed killed, 70 residents were taken to hospital, including 17 with serious burns.
Police Minister Meng Jianzhu said the risks of such fires were rising.
Last year, 1,076 people were killed and 580 injured in fires in China, according to the Ministry of Public Security, which also controls fire-fighting services.
It is common to find fire exits blocked or locked in many Chinese buildings, ostensibly to stop thieves or because the space is being used for storage, and fire extinguishers are not widely available.