Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, February 16, 2004
Another fire kills at least 39 in Zhejiang
At least 39 pilgrims were killed and four others injured by a temple fire in Haining City of east China's Zhejiang Province, only three hours after a blaze that killed 51 in northeast China, local officials said.
At least 39 pilgrims were killed and four others injured by a temple fire in Haining City of east China's Zhejiang Province, only three hours after a blaze that killed 51 in northeast China, local officials said.
The fire at a temple at the city's Wufeng Village of Huangwan Town occurred at about 2:15 p.m. when pilgrims were worshipping.
The fire was extinguished about half an hour later at 2:45 p.m., police said.
By press time, 39 bodies had been found and four injured people were rescued.
Senior officials including provincial Governor Lu Zushan, vice governors Zhang Mengjin and Wang Yongming, and director of the Zhejiang Province Department of Public Security Wang Huizhong had rushed to the scene to investigate and guide the rescue work.
The search for survivors and clean-up work still continue while the cause for the fire is under investigation.
A fire in a bustling shopping mall in Jilin City of northeast China's Jilin Province Feb. 15 noon killed 51 people and injured another 71.
Negligence in worship activities to blame
Negligence in worship activities by villagers led to the fire that killed at least 39 in Haining City in east China's Zhejiang province Sunday, according to preliminary results of police investigation early Monday.
A number of senior villagers did worship at a shed put up by straw and bamboo in Wufeng Village Sunday afternoon when the fire occurred at about 2:15 p.m.
At least 39 pilgrims were killed and four others injured in the fire.
The fire was extinguished at 2:45 p.m. Further investigation into the accident was under way.