2010 Shanghai fire

Fire in 2010 that destroyed a building in Shanghai March 2020 Shanghai jiaozhou road fire.jpgalt=Flames can be seen inside a tall brown-black building frame. Smoke surrounds the gutted structure while a single stream of water from the ground reaches midway up the building. 230px Firefighters were unable to extinguish the fire from the ground. 15 November 2010 14:15 CST (06:15 UTC) No. 1, Alley 718 Jiaozhou Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai, Chinahttp://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2010/201011/20101122/article_455210.htm City mourns victims of deadly apartment blaze 22 November 2010 Ni Yinbin Shanghai Daily Publishing House Shanghai Daily 2010-11-24 31 14 15 N 121 26 06 E type:event_region:CN inline, titlehttp://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/16/c_13608066.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20101118053533/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/16/c_13608066.htm dead 18 November 2010 At least 42 dead after downtown Shanghai apartment block blaze 16 November 2010 Xinhua Xinhua News Agency 2010-11-22 上海“11·15”特别重大火灾 Shanghai '11·15' especially serious fire 70https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/25/world/asia/25shanghai.html China Detains Officials Over Shanghai Fire Barboza David The New York Times 24 December 2010 2011-01-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20110110081621/http://www.nytimes.com//2010//12//25//world//asia//25shanghai.html 10 January 2011 live–120https://china.cnr.cn/news/201011/t20101117_507331757.html zh:上海市政府召开"11·15"特别重大火灾新闻发布会通报 17 November 2010 China National Radio Central People's Broadcasting Station zh 2010-11-17 58 (36 missing)October 2020 The 2010 Shanghai fireThe PRC State Council officially named it "上海“11·15”特别重大火灾" (Shanghai "11·15" especially serious fire) or "上海市静安区胶州路公寓大楼“11·15”特别重大火灾事故" (Shanghai Jing'an District Jiaozhou Road "11·15" especially serious fire incident). "11·15" refers to 15 November. It is called also simply called "Great Fire of Jing'an District" and "Great Fire of Jiaozhou Road", "Shanghai high-rise fire" or "Shanghai apartment building fire" by Chinese media. was a fire on 15 November 2010 that destroyed a 28-story high-rise apartment building in the heart of Shanghai, China, killing at least 58 people and injuring more than 70 others (with at least one source reporting more than 120 others injured). Most of the residents were retired state school senior educators. It is remembered as an iconic high-rise fire in China in the 2010s. An investigation under the PRC State Council was announced on 16 November, the day after the fire, to determine the cause of the blaze. A preliminary finding by investigators concluded that sparks from welding work being done on the building, undertaken by unlicensed welders, ignited scaffolding around the structure, which led to the apartments' destruction. The municipal government also placed the blame on illegal multi-layered subcontracting, and detained four managers from several construction companies. In all, sixteenhttp://www.china.org.cn/china/2010-12/24/content_21607810.htm 3 more detained over Shanghai high-rise fire 24 December 2010 Xinhua China Internet Information Center China.org.cn 2011-01-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20110121070023/http://china.org.cn/china/2010-12/24/content_21607810.htm 21 January 2011 live individuals have been arrested in connection to the fire, as well as four others accused of being unlicensed welders. The week after the fire, city officials announced a compensation plan for victims of the fire and their families. The fire also prompted the government to pass stricter regulations on the construction industry, as well as increased fire safety inspections. The New York Times reported that China suppressed several building complaints, and several journalists were detained after the fire. The Asia Times wrote that an alleged slow response by the government was criticized. Fire thumb|left|200px|alt=An upward view of a gutted structure with flames and smoke pouring out mid-building|A video of the building on fire The fire began at 14:15 local time (06:15 UTC)https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-15/smoke-blocks-chopper-rescue-as-shanghai-apartment-fire-kills-8-injures-90.html Shanghai Apartment Fire Kills at Least 53, Hospitalizes 70 Bloomberg News 15 November 2010 Bloomberg L.P. Bloomberg 2010-11-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20101202052451/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-15/smoke-blocks-chopper-rescue-as-shanghai-apartment-fire-kills-8-injures-90.html 2 December 2010 livehttps://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40190224 Four welders detained in deadly Shanghai blaze 11 November 2010 NBC News 2010-11-22 around the tenth floor.October 2020 The building, constructed in 1997, was located at the intersection of Jiaozhou Road and Yuyao Road in Jing'an District, the heart of central Shanghaihttp://english.sina.com/china/p/2010/1115/348188.html Death toll of Shanghai fire climbs to 53 Xinhua 16 November 2010 SINA Corporation Sina 2010-11-16 and was being renovated at the time of the fire. Witnesses said that the fire started with construction materials and spread throughout the building. It took over 80 fire engines and several hours to contain the fire.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11759276 Shanghai high-rise flats fire leaves dozens dead 15 November 2010 The BBC BBC News 2010-11-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20101120091030/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11759276 20 November 2010 live Shanghai residents were able to see smoke from the fire several kilometres away.http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/fire-shanghai-high-rise-kills-49-0 Fire in Shanghai high-rise kills 49 15 November 2010 Radio Netherlands Worldwide Radio Netherlands Worldwide 2010-11-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20101203033247/http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/fire-shanghai-high-rise-kills-49-0 3 December 2010 dead dmy-all Firefighters were unable to hose water on the top of the 85 m ft-tall building from the ground.October 2020 It is remembered as an iconic high-rise fire in China in the 2010s. China Youth Daily reported that the contractor for the construction said the cause of the fire was probably sparks caused by welding work done on the 20th floor.https://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/15/china.building.fire/?hpt=T2 4 held in China high-rise fire that killed 53 16 November 2010 CNN Cable News Network 2010-11-23 Qiu Jingshu, a worker on the 18th floor, said sparks from welding being done on another building flew over and caused the scaffolding to catch fire.http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=454730 53 die in downtown high-rise inferno 16 November 2010 Zha Minjie Jia Feishang Ni Yinbin Liang Yiwen Shanghai Daily Shanghai Daily Publishing House 2010-11-22 Afterward, it was "established" that the fire "was caused by unlicensed welders improperly operating their equipment", and several welders were arrested.https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703326204575617734198081238 Four Welders Arrested in Shanghai Fire Associated Press The Wall Street Journal Dow Jones & Company, Inc. 16 November 2010 2010-11-22 Rescue efforts thumb|200px|alt=Several firefighters walk near scaffolding that is wrapped around a dark structure with flames shooting out.|The apartment building on fire Firefighters were able to save over 100 people out of the 180https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/world/asia/16shanghai.html?src=me Fire Engulfs High-Rise in Shanghai Barboza David 15 November 2010 The New York Times 2010-11-15 families inhabiting the high-rise apartment building. According to Al Jazeera, the fire began at the scaffolding that surrounded the building, but spread to the complex's main building of around 500 apartments.http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/11/201011158583160423.html Scores killed in China blaze 16 November 2010 Al Jazeera Al Jazeera 2010-11-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20101118062720/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/11/201011158583160423.html 18 November 2010 livehttp://www.daylife.com/photo/0dLt63LfxSaIg?q=shanghai Photo AP Photo Daylife Daylife, Inc. 2010-11-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20120318075323/http://www.daylife.com/photo/0dLt63LfxSaIg?q=shanghai 18 March 2012 dead dmy-all Xinhua News Agency said the fire was contained at about 6:30 p.m. local time (10:30 UTC), more than four hours after it began. Three helicopters had been called in to assist in the rescue,http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/slides/2010-11/16/content_11553090.htm Slide: Shanghai apartment block fire 16 November 2010 China Daily China Daily 2010-11-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20101124112256/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/slides/2010-11/16/content_11553090.htm 24 November 2010 live Photos from the helicopters but were prevented by thick smoke generated by the fire.http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20101116/103778.shtml Shanghai fire kills at least 53 16 November 2010 China Central Television China Network Television 2010-11-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20101118012327/http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20101116/103778.shtml 18 November 2010 dead dmy-all The upper portion of the building was beyond the reach of fire apparatus; the blaze was brought under control only after firefighters set up hoses atop a nearby building. In all, 25 fire stations and over 100 fire appliances were mobilised in response to the incident.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/16/c_13608119.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20101119040104/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/16/c_13608119.htm dead 19 November 2010 China's police chief calls for thorough investigation on cause of Shanghai high-rise fire 16 November 2010 Xinhua Xinhua News Agency 2010-11-22http://www.china.org.cn/china/2010-11/16/content_21353368.htm Death toll of Shanghai fire climbs to 53 16 November 2010 Xinhua China.org.cn China Internet Information Center 2010-11-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20101121083258/http://china.org.cn/china/2010-11/16/content_21353368.htm 21 November 2010 live Television coverage of the event showed people holding on to scaffolding around the building, and some were able to climb down to safety. One worker on the 28th floor said that workers were adding insulation to the building when the fire broke out. Victims not in hospitals, as well as evacuees from three surrounding city blocks, were sent to public buildings, including a school and a stadium, until their housing situation could be addressed. Casualties The building housed around 440 people, mainly retired state school senior educators, including school principals, school party secretaries and high-ranked teachers.上海着火大楼是怎样建成的 Southern Weekly 2010-12-09 柴会群 江雁南 https://www.infzm.com/contents/53345 https://web.archive.org/web/20220110000125/https://www.infzm.com/contents/53345 dead 2022-01-10 An early report showed that the ages of those injured in the fire range from 3 to 85, with the majority (64.5%) over the age of 50.https://news.xinmin.cn/t/msrx/2010/11/16/7746218.html zh:市府发布会 通报胶州路特大火灾处置情况 16 November 2010 zh xinmin.cn 2010-11-20 Most of the injured appeared to be elderly residents or children, and it was confirmed that the youngest victim of the fire was 16 months old.http://news.ifeng.com/gundong/detail_2010_11/17/3144928_0.shtml zh:上海火灾年龄最小的遇难者仅16个月 17 November 2010 The Economic Observer The Economic Observer ifeng.com Phoenix New Media Inc. zh 2010-11-19 A firefighter said that 57 of the 58 killed had died inside the building.October 2020 Earliest reports put the death toll at eight, but Xinhua later revised the count several times,Pei Xin Death toll of Shanghai fire climbs to 49 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/16/c_13608449.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20101119092447/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/16/c_13608449.htm dead 19 November 2010 2010-11-16 Xinhua Xinhua News Agency 16 November 2010 and then confirmed 53 deaths by 16 November.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/16/c_13608737.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20101119012542/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/16/c_13608737.htm dead 19 November 2010 Death toll of Shanghai fire climbs to 53 16 November 2010 Xinhua Xinhua News Agency 2010-11-22 26 bodies were identified using DNA tests.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/17/c_13611007.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20121107054106/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/17/c_13611007.htm dead 7 November 2012 DNA tests confirm identities of 26 Shanghai fire victims 17 November 2010 Xinhua Xinhua News Agency 2010-11-18 Some media outlets reported 79 fatalities by adding the number of identified victims to the number of previously reported fatalities,https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/17/shanghai-fire-death-toll-rises Shanghai fire death toll rises 17 November 2010 Guardian News and Media Limited Associated Press The Guardian 2010-11-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20101124040132/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/17/shanghai-fire-death-toll-rises 24 November 2010 live although Xinhua later said that the 26 identified were included amongst the 53. As of 24 November 58 people (22 males and 36 females) were officially reported deadhttp://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/19/c_13613065.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20101122051646/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/19/c_13613065.htm dead 22 November 2010 Shanghai high-rise fire death toll rises to 58 19 November 2010 Xinhua Xinhua News Agency 2010-11-22 while 56 people remained missing.http://www.sh.xinhuanet.com/zhuanti2010/2010-11/19/content_21432421.htm zh:上海"11•15"火灾遇难人数上升到58人 19 November 2010 Xinhua News Agency Xinhua zh 2010-11-20 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101120212400/http://www.sh.xinhuanet.com/zhuanti2010/2010-11/19/content_21432421.htm 20 November 2010 dmy-all Of the deceased, 57 were identified by DNA tests early on, while one male, from Japan,October 2020 was still being identified when the official death count was released. A doctor at Shanghai's Jing'an Hospital said that over 20 people injured in the fire had been admitted, many suffering from asphyxia caused by smoke inhalation.https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hJTkUNkriFCWbNOkMCHS3oclVoMA?docId=872866e8609f470785fd770e3ed4bd16 China says Shanghai high-rise fire kills 42 15 November 2010 The Associated Press Associated Press 2010-11-24June 2024 medicmedic State media reports said the hospital was treating 55 survivors, including nine in serious condition. At least 70 people, and possibly more than 120 people were reported to have been injured. According to BBC News, people who survived the blaze were searching hospitals for missing family and friends. As of 24 November 66 wounded people, 14 of which were in critical condition, were being treated at seven area medical centers. In all, nine hospitals received victims of the fire. The list of the dead was not released as the victims' families wanted privacy. Authorities said more than one-third of the families did not want the names of the deceased published. However, several newspapers listed some of the names of the dead. The artist Ai Weiwei compiled an unofficial list of the victims' names by contacting their relatives, along with officials and journalists.http://www.zaobao.com/special/hotspot/pages/hotspot101125b.shtml zh:针对上海大火灾 艾未未发起调查遇难者名单 25 November 2010 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Lianhe Zaobao zh 2010-11-26 He claimed that the actual death toll was two more than the official count, but authorities did not provide access to the list of casualties.October 2020 Response Investigation thumb|200px|alt=An upward view of a burned-out high-rise: a blackened mess of tangled scaffolding and holes for windows.|The structure after the fire was extinguished Meng Jianzhu, the Minister of Public Security, went to Shanghai to manage rescue operations. Jing'an officials set up temporary lodging and food at area hotels, and some survivors stayed at a gymnasium overnight.http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/11/16/apworld/20101116092226&sec=apworld 53 die in high-rise fire in Shanghai 16 November 2010 Associated Press Star Publications (M) Bhd. The Star 2010-11-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20121015130959/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2010%2F11%2F16%2Fapworld%2F20101116092226&sec=apworld 15 October 2012 dead dmy-all After the flames were extinguished, the Shanghai Municipal Government held a press conference about the damage caused by the fire.Ruoji Tang Shanghai Fire Leaves Behind Trail of Unanswered Questions http://www.eeo.com.cn/ens/homepage/briefs/2010/11/17/186183.shtml 17 November 2010 The Economic Observer The Economic Observer Online 17 November 2010 Liu Jinguo, Vice Minister of Public Security, described the firefighting as "a successful model",http://news.xinhuanet.com/society/2010-11/17/c_12787158_3.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20101121112413/http://news.xinhuanet.com/society/2010-11/17/c_12787158_3.htm dead 21 November 2010 zh:公安部消防局副局长朱力平少将谈上海“11·15”火灾 17 November 2010 Xinhua News Agency Xinhua zh 2010-11-19 leading to a dispute by Chinese netizens. Later in the week of the fire, government officials began a drive to increase fire and safety inspections at buildings and construction sites. They also said that improvements would be made to the city's firefighting capabilities. Local residents said that fire safety requirements at the high-rise were lax, and that workers often tossed used cigarettes into the building's hallways.https://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/15/china.building.fire/?hpt=T2 4 held in China high-rise fire that killed 53 15 November 2010 CNN Cable News Network 2010-11-24 Week-long safety inspections were done on the two other buildings of the apartment complex, both of which were unharmed. The several hundred people living in those buildings were expected to be allowed to move back on 20 December 2010. Until then, the survivors would live in 17 nearby hotels.http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2010/201011/20101125/article_455524.htm Blaze site closed off to public Zha Minjie Shanghai Daily Shanghai Daily Publishing House 25 November 2010 2010-11-25 According to Ming Pao, family members of the victims were dissatisfied with the official investigation and held a sit-in protest, calling for a fair judgement. Some locals blamed the official rescue work by comparing it with a large emergency response exercise on a 330-meter building several days before,Wu Zhong 20 November 2010 Shanghai fire casts pall on officials http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/LK20Ad01.html unfit https://web.archive.org/web/20111128064532/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/LK20Ad01.html 28 November 2011 2010-11-21 Asia Times Asia Times Online (Holdings), Ltd. and the successful firefighting for a blaze at Shanghai World Financial Center in 2007.http://www.mingpaotor.com/htm/News/20101117/tcaa1.htm zh:「很多人燒成灰」滬大火恐逾百死 家屬靜坐 斥包庇「真兇」 17 November 2010 Ming Pao Daily News Ming Pao Enterprise Corporation Ltd. zh 2010-11-20 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101120213327/http://www.mingpaotor.com/htm/News/20101117/tcaa1.htm 20 November 2010 dmy-allhttps://www.eeo.com.cn/ens/Observer/opinion_analysis/2010/11/18/186279.shtml Views From the East: Calls for Accountability in Wake of Shanghai Fire Ruoji Tang 18 November 2010 The Economic Observer Online The Economic Observer 2010-11-20 Others blamed an ineffective firefighting system for the high death toll, and were dissatisfied that they were not given more details about the fire.October 2020 In Beijing, authorities halted renovation projects similar to the one being done on the apartment in Shanghai shortly after the blaze. The projects, intended to save energy by installing insulation, were stopped on 19 November, pending safety evaluations of the work. The insulation is still flammable, despite the use of fire retardants. Shanghai officials temporarily stopped such renovations after the fire, but later allowed them to resume.https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=12188489&page=1 Shanghai Fire Toll at 58; Beijing Reviews Projects Kurtenbach Elaine ABC News 19 November 2010 ABC News Internet Ventures 2010-11-24 On 20 December 2010, the mayor of Shanghai, Han Zheng, said that the city would crack down on unfair practices of construction companies and contracting firms. Han said that there is little regulation of the construction industry and that certain companies have had advantages over other companies when being awarded contracts.http://english.eastday.com/e/101221/u1a5622034.html Shanghai To Act On Concerns Raised By Fire 21 December 2010 Eastday English.Eastday.Com Shanghai Daily 2011-01-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20101224063521/http://english.eastday.com/e/101221/u1a5622034.html 24 December 2010 dead dmy-all On 11 January 2011, Shanghai authorities placed into effect a new set of regulations aimed at better official supervision of construction companies.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-01/12/c_13686995.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20121107084706/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-01/12/c_13686995.htm dead 7 November 2012 Shanghai tightens building construction regulations 2 months after high-rise blaze killed 58 12 January 2011 Xinhua Xinhua News Agency 2011-01-16 The city will also require that such companies will not be permitted to have any non-official relationship with local government offices after one year.http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2011/201101/20110112/article_461312.htm Overhaul of construction rules Dong Zhen 12 January 2011 Shanghai Daily Publishing House Shanghai Daily 2011-01-16 Some media organizations had been questioning the connections between Jing'an District's government and the contracting groups involved in the fire, leading to accusations of corruption.Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse 12 January 2011 China tightens building rules after deadly fire Geo Tv https://www.geo.tv/latest/16725-china-tightens-building-rules-after-deadly-fire 2011-01-16 Compensation On 23 November, it was announced that the families of each victim of the fire would receive 960,000 yuan in compensation for the ordeal.https://news.xinmin.cn/t/msrx/2010/11/23/7882066.html zh:张仁良:每位遇难者将获得约96万元赔偿和救助金 23 November 2010 Xinmin Evening News xinmin.cn zh 周晏珵, 胡彦珣 李欣, 陈炅玮 2010-11-23 The compensation would include 650,000 yuan for every death and 310,000 yuan in financial assistance from the government and charities. Zhang Renliang, the top official of Jing'an District, said that Shanghai residents and foreign workers would be compensated equally.http://www.china.org.cn/china/2010-11/24/content_21407451.htm Fire victims' payouts detailed China Daily 24 November 2010 China.org.cn China Internet Information Center 2010-11-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20101124231545/http://china.org.cn/china/2010-11/24/content_21407451.htm 24 November 2010 live Survivors of the blaze would be fully compensated for the loss of possessions and property.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-23/shanghai-to-compensate-victims-of-apartment-blaze-update1-.html Shanghai to Compensate Victims of Apartment Blaze Bloomberg News Bloomberg Bloomberg L.P. 23 November 2010 2010-11-24http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/23/c_13619177.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20101125050343/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/23/c_13619177.htm dead 25 November 2010 Most Shanghai fire victims identified 23 November 2010 Xinhua Xinhua News Agency 2010-11-24 Some who lost relatives in the disaster, however, were not satisfied with the announcement. They said that the compensation plan was not enough to pay for another apartment in the district, and that they would rather have a new apartment than the money.http://english.eastday.com/e/101124/u1a5567898.html Payouts for blaze victims 24 November 2010 Eastday English.Eastday.Com Shanghai Daily 2010-11-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20101127203645/http://english.eastday.com/e/101124/u1a5567898.html 27 November 2010 dead dmy-all Media censorship allegations Hong Kong-based Sing Tao Daily and Singapore-based Lianhe Zaobao reported that four journalists from Xinjing News (新京报), China Daily, Reuters and a local newspaper were detained for one hour as security forces demanded a guarantee for positive news coverage by the journalists, before they were to interview families of the victims at a funeral parlour.http://www.zaobao.com/wencui/2010/11/hongkong101119o.shtml zh:四记者上海采访被保安扣留 19 November 2010 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Lianhe Zaobao zh 2010-11-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20101126201150/http://zaobao.com/wencui/2010/11/hongkong101119o.shtml 26 November 2010 live The reporters wrote about their detainment on two websites. A Chinese webmaster said that the authorities demanded for Chinese websites to cut down on their reporting of the fire, and only allowed usage of the official Xinhua news source. The New York Times reported that Chinese website Huasheng Online was blocked by government censors after criticizing the country's real-estate industry.https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/world/asia/17shanghai.html?_r=1&ref=asia Fire Trips Alarms About China's Building Boom; Censors Respond 16 November 2010 Wines Michael Barboza David The New York Times 2011-01-16 Responsibility Han Zheng said on 22 November that the city was largely responsible for the disaster. He said, "Poor supervision of the city's construction industry was one of the causes behind the high-rise apartment building fire. And we are responsible for that." Willy Wo-Lap Lam, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said Han was trying "to do some damage control to dispel anger and to comfort the families of the victims and the Shanghai people." Luo Lin, chief of the PRC State Administration of Work Safety, blamed the fire on illegal employment methods, poor project oversight, and incompetent, inexperienced workers. On the day following the fire, Meng Jianzhu said he wanted an investigation into the fire to determine who was responsible for it, so those at fault could be punished appropriately. He told rescue officials to be meticulous in their efforts and that information regarding the fire should be released to the public. He also asked local governments across China to take preventative measures against such fires, including building inspections. A team of investigators, led by the State Administration of Work Safety,http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/7202743.html Illegal work practices behind Shanghai high-rise fire: work safety chief 17 November 2010 People's Daily People's Daily Online Xinhua 2010-11-24 was formed under the PRC State Council to look into the incident.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/16/c_13608088.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20101119015001/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/16/c_13608088.htm dead 19 November 2010 Investigation team set up for Shanghai high-rise fire 16 November 2010 Xinhua Xinhua News Agency 2010-11-20 Many details about the "November 15 Relief and Rehabilitation Working Team" have not been publicly announced.October 2020 The investigation into the fire made a preliminary conclusion that negligence by unlicensed welders on the tenth floor caused the bamboo scaffolding and attached nylon netting to catch fire, which subsequently spread to the entire structure. Shanghai authorities detained eight individuals on 16 November, at least four of whom were accused of being unlicensed welders.http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6AF1EJ20101116 https://archive.today/20130201051831/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6AF1EJ20101116 dead 1 February 2013 Eight detained after Shanghai apartment fire kills 53 16 November 2010 Reuters Thomson Reuters 2010-11-20 As of 19 November, a total of twelve individuals were being held by officials in connection to the blaze, including four more who were detained that day. The four were representatives of Jiayi Building Decoration, a part of renovation contractor Jing'an Construction, Shanghai Jing'an Construction Supervision, and the apartment management company.http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_605722.html 4 more suspects in blaze held 21 November 2010 China Daily Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. The Straits Times 2010-11-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20101122003625/http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_605722.html 22 November 2010 live On 24 December 2010, Shanghai officials announced that three government employees had been taken into custody in connection with the fire. Those detained were accused of abusing their authority to permit illicit construction practices to occur. The three were reported to be Gao Weizhong, director of Jing'an's construction and transportation commission; Zhang Quan, of the commission's main office; and Zhou Jianmin, of the organization's construction department. Cause of fire The fire may have been caused by the accidental ignition of polyurethane foam insulation used on the building's outer walls. In China, the foam is commonly used as insulation material without the addition of flame retardants, and the foam produces toxic gases such as hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide when burned. The Beijing Television Cultural Center was said to have used polyurethane insulation, which magnified the ferocity of a 2009 fire that consumed the center.http://www.mingpaotor.com/htm/News/20101117/tcaa3.htm zh:保溫材料疑成助燃器 16 November 2010 Ming Pao Daily News Ming Pao Enterprise Corporation Ltd. zh 2010-11-22 In a 24 November press conference, local authorities said that the two apartments next to the destroyed building would be renovated as well, and that foam cladding on their exteriors would be switched out in favor of fire-resistant materials. Chinese citizens have also questioned the lack of an indoor fire sprinkler system in high rise buildings.https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/world/asia/17shanghai.html?_r=2&ref=china Fire Trips Alarms About China's Building Boom; Censors Respond 16 November 2010 The New York Times 2010-11-23 Public mourning thumb|200px|alt=A large crowd stands behind metal fences around the base of a burned-out building, which is surrounded by many flowers and wreaths.|Mourners surrounded the destroyed building, bringing flowers and wreaths. Local citizens put flowers and wreaths near the site, and offered prayers around the destroyed building.https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=12188489 Shanghai Fire Toll At 58; Beijing Reviews Projects 19 November 2010 Elaine Kurtenbach Associated Press ABC News 2011-01-21 Mourners, including Government officials, came bearing chrysanthemums. At one point, the crowd stretched around 250 m ft down the road. According to Xinhua, about 10,000 people attended a public mourning at the site on 21 November, seven days after the fire; mourners left large amounts of flowers surrounding the burnt building.https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704444304575628360108943100?mod=googlenews_wsj Thousands Mourn Fire Victims in Shanghai 21 November 2010 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. The Wall Street Journal Page Jeremy 2010-11-24http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2010-11/22/c_12800321.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20121107054822/http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2010-11/22/c_12800321.htm dead 7 November 2012 上海约10万民众抵火灾现场献花致哀 22 November 2010 Xinhua News Agency 2010-11-22 The seventh day after death is the day that Chinese people believe the souls of the dead return to their relatives before departing, and mourners at the site burned paper and made a feast for the deceased, in accordance with Chinese tradition. During the event, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra played "Ave Maria" and monks recited sūtras at a local temple. On 19 December 2010, the 35th day following the fire, authorities were reported to be detaining mourners who were visiting the site. According to Chinese legend, souls of the dead also visit humans 35 days after death, but police were taking mourners away on buses. Local officials did not provide an explanation for the event.https://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2010/12/20/shanghai-police-round-up-fire-mourners/ Shanghai Police Round Up Fire Mourners 20 December 2010 Areddy James T. The Wall Street Journal Dow Jones & Company, Inc. 2011-01-16 See also List of fires in China Skyscraper fire Beijing Television Cultural Center fire 1996 Garley Building fire Daeyeonggak Hotel fire Grenfell Tower fire List of high-rise facade fires Notes and references Notes "Note" References 2 External links http://shanghaiist.com/2010/11/15/breaking_huge_fire_ravages_shanghai.php Huge fire ravages apartment building in Shanghai's Jing'an district Shanghaiist Peijin Chen 18 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101224005012/http://shanghaiist.com/2010/11/15/breaking_huge_fire_ravages_shanghai.php 24 December 2010 live 15 November 2010 http://gallery.rr.com/gallery/Shanghai_Fire Shanghai Fire TWC Galleries 16 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101203032738/http://gallery.rr.com/gallery/Shanghai_Fire 3 December 2010 dead Hogg Chris https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11805473 Thousands gather to mourn for 58 Shanghai flat fire victims (video) BBC News 21 November 2010 21 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101122045000/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11805473 22 November 2010 live 2010 Shanghai fire Category:2010 fires in Asia Category:2010 disasters in China Category:Articles containing video clips Category:2010 in Shanghai Category:November 2010 in China Category:Residential building fires in Asia Category:High-rise fires in China Category:Disasters in Shanghai