Shanghai building blaze Death toll rises to 53
CHINA: The death toll from a huge fire that engulfed a high-rise
building in Shanghai rose to 53 on Tuesday, as China’s top police
official vowed to punish anyone found responsible for the disaster.
The blaze raged for several hours on Monday, causing panicked
residents to stumble over each other to escape as thick smoke spread
above China’s commercial hub. 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 mid-afternoon.
Bright orange flames enveloped scaffolding and spread to the building
as the fire blazed, gutting much of the structure.
Photos published by state media showed residents clinging to the
scaffolding to escape the flames.
Hu Zhenqing, 60, who lived on 20th floor, told the Global Times
newspaper that he heard several desperate cries as he and his wife fled
the building.
“It was gut wrenching, then we saw a woman jump from high above. We
didn’t see where she landed, but I don’t think she made it,” Hu said.
At least 53 people died and 70 were being treated for injuries, the
official Xinhua news agency said. The government would thoroughly
investigate the fire and punish anyone responsible, Public Security
Minister Meng Jianzhu was quoted as saying by Xinhua. The State Council,
or cabinet, has set up an investigation team.
No possible cause has yet been identified. But a woman who lived in
the block, identified only by her surname Zhao, told Xinhua she had
filed complaints about construction workers dropping cigarette butts
around the building.
“Such a horrible scene belongs in novels, not real life. I could
hardly believe my eyes,” she said. Another witness told the Global Times
that careless welding work could have ignited the fire.
Survivor Li Xiuyun, 61, said she fled down the steps of the building
with her husband, son and granddaughter from their home on the 16th
floor until they met firefighters who took them to safety.
“The smoke was very strong and the glass from the windows was
scalding,” she told AFP at the Jingan District Hospital, adding that she
cut her feet on shattered glass as she fled.
“My son took off his socks and soaked them with water, and we used
them to cover our noses.”
The building was an apartment block for teachers, according to state
media reports, which said most were retired.
State television footage showed people, their faces smudged by soot,
stumbling out of the building grimacing in pain as the fire raged, with
rescue services helping them.
Shanghai, Tuesday, AFP
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