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Jiang Calls for Efforts to Deal with Aftermath of Luoyang Fire
President Jiang Zemin Wednesday expressed his concern about the fire that broke out on December 25 in Luoyang of central China's Henan Province, and urged local governments to spare no efforts to treat the injured and do a good job in dealing with the aftermath of the fire.
Zhu Rongji, Hu Jintao and other top leaders also requested quick measures to investigate the case as soon as possible and punish those responsible.
Officials from the State Economic and Trade Commission rushed to the scene Tuesday and an emergency meeting was held that night.
Altogether 309 people died in the fire. The cause of it is under investigation and suspects have been detained.
Work on identifying the dead has been underway since Tuesday.
To date, the eight local hospitals where the injured are treated have cleaned and fixed up 280 corpses.
Hospital workers have taken photos and established files for those without identity certificates.
Of the seven survivors, one who suffered from smoke inhalation in the fire has recovered and left hospital. The other six are being kept at hospital for treatment.
Welders' Illegal Operation Causes Luoyang FireStray sparks from welding caused the fire that killed 309 people on December 25 in Luoyang City of central China's Henan Province, investigators said Thursday, December 28.
The fire was caused by welder Wang Chengtai's operation in violation of regulations, according to an investigation team of experts from the Ministry of Public Security and provincial public security department.
At about 9 p.m. on December 25, Wang and three other welders, all unlicensed and employed by the Taiwan investor Dennis, a business partner of Dongdu Commercial Building, were working in the basement of the commercial building, when stray welding slag fell down on furniture and cotton flannel in the sub-basement and started the fire.
Wang and his colleagues failed to put out the fire with water and fled the scene without reporting the fire.
On Wednesday morning, the four were seized by police and confessed to their violation of law.
The experts' conclusion was confirmed by porters working at the scene.
The public security department of Luoyang City has detained the four welders, including Wang Chengtai, Song Long, Lai Dengge and Ding Xiaodong, as well as other eight people who were at the spot and provided false testimony.
Ten Suspects Detained for Luoyang FireTen suspects are being detained for connection with the fire that occurred December 25 in Luoyang, according to sources.
A total of 309 people were killed in the fire in the Dongdu Commercial Building.
By 10 p.m. Wednesday evening, 201 bodies were identified, of which, one was claimed by relatives and cremated.
China Life Insurance Company, Henan Branch, went to the scene to check if any of their policyholders were injured or died as a result of the fire. So far, four have been confirmed to be policyholders.
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