Shanghai high-rise flats on fire

[Water Car Engineer]

BBC News - Shanghai high-rise flats fire leaves dozens dead

 

[Water Car Engineer]

 

[GodlessBastard]

RIP to the deceased

What caused the fire?

 

[Nomenclature]

The building was being renovated with better energy saving insulation and window glass. The fire was started when some building material caught fire and spreaded through the scaffolding.

 

[razgriz19]

damn that building is done!
they probably gonna have to demolish it...

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

The building was being renovated with better energy saving insulation and window glass. The fire was started when some building material caught fire and spreaded through the scaffolding.

I'm very sorry for the loss. I speak on behalf of whole country.


today was a sad day in the continent it seems. Something similar happened in india, i heard building collapsed there as well

 

[StingRoy]

today was a sad day in the continent it seems. Something similar happened in india, i heard building collapsed there as well

Yes it was an ironic and tragic day. Around 40 people have died in a building collapse in Delhi as well. More are still under the rubble.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

condolences to the people of both countries, may the victims & their families and loved ones be comforted

 

[yangtomous]

fell very sad,people can't save them ,the strong fire take away 49 lives.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

This is very concerning, a lot of people in urban areas tend to live in high-rise buildings. Renovation crews must be very careful in this kind of situation.

RIP to the deceased.

 

[Brotherhood]

Investigation team set up for Shanghai high-rise fire - People's Daily Online November 16, 2010

Chinese Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu speaks at a meeting on handling the aftermath of the fire in a downtown residential building in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 16, 2010. Meng arrived in Shanghai at wee hours Tuesday to guide rescue and relief work of the fire. He announced to set up an investigation team under the State Council. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

An investigation team under the State Council, or China's Cabinet, for Monday's fatal fire in downtown Shanghai residential building was set up early Tuesday morning, as announced by China's police chief.

Meng Jianzhu, Chinese Public Security Minister, arrived at the site early in the morning to guide rescue and relief work. He also visited the injured who are being treated in hospital.

The 28-story building at the intersection of Jiaozhou Road and Yuyao Road in Jing'an District, a densely-populated area in Shanghai, was being renovated when it caught fire at about 2:15 p.m..

The fire was mostly extinguished at 6:30 p.m.. Death toll had risen to 42 until 10 p.m. Monday, but the number of injured people is not immediately known. Nearby hospitals have received more than 100 rescued people.

The cause of the fire was as yet unknown, but a witness said he saw construction materials burning before the fire climbed up the scaffolding and quickly spread.

Yu Zhengsheng, secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, urged at an emergent meeting called Monday evening to find out the cause as soon as possible.

According to a statement from Shanghai municipal publicity office, 25 fire units and more than 100 fire engines were dispatched to the scene.

Helicopters were sent to rescue people trapped on the roof.

Jing'an District government has arranged food and accommodation for fire-affected residents in nearby hotels.

Residents said the building, built in the 1990s, housed mainly teachers from several schools in Jing'an District, many of whom were retired.

Source: Xinhua

Chinese Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu visits an injured person at Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 16, 2010. Meng arrived in Shanghai at wee hours Tuesday to guide rescue and relief work of Monday's fatal fire in a downtown Shanghai residential building. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Chinese Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu (2nd R) attends a meeting on handling the aftermath of the fire in a downtown residential building in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 16, 2010. Meng arrived in Shanghai at wee hours Tuesday to guide rescue and relief work of the fire. He announced to set up an investigation team under the State Council. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Yu Zhengsheng, secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, speaks at a meeting on handling the aftermath of the fire in a downtown residential building in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 16, 2010. Chinese Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu arrived in Shanghai at wee hours Tuesday to guide rescue and relief work of the fire. He announced to set up an investigation team under the State Council. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Photo taken on Nov. 16, 2010 shows the meeting on handling the aftermath of the fire in a downtown residential building in Shanghai, east China. Chinese Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu arrived in Shanghai at wee hours Tuesday to guide rescue and relief work of the fire. He announced to set up an investigation team under the State Council. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

 

[Nomenclature]

I wonder what's the political significance of this high profile direct involvement of the the State Council in the investigation.

Is the Central Government trying to assert more control over Shanghai or I'm just reading too much into this?

 

[houshanghai]

Death toll had risen to 53

 

[BigTree.CN]

It looks like hell.

 

[no_name]

Fire has been mostly put out, latest toll were 53 deaths and 70+ people receiving medical help.