Zhejiang: Multiple breaches of safety regulations were to blame for a fire in April that led to the death of 11 people, local authorities said on Sunday, adding 20 officials have been punished for their roles in the incident.
The Zhejiang Provincial Department of Emergency Management said in a report released on its website the blaze, which took place at metalware producer Wuyi county’s Weijiali Industry and Commercial Co on the afternoon of April 17, was a major accident.
Some slag that fell downstairs during illegal electric welding work at the company’s second floor ignited six barrels of paint next to a wire-drawing work station and flammable fiber tiles that had been improperly stored on the first floor, the report concluded. The smoke subsequently spread to the production line on the second floor through cargo elevator shafts and to emergency stairs.
Investigators pointed out the main reasons for the fatalities were the fire doors not remaining closed as requested, which led to the quick spread of poisonous gases and kept the trapped people from escaping.
The company illegally refitted some rooms for production purposes which made fire safety facilities, such as escape stairs and automatic firefighting equipment, unusable during the fire. In addition, the company also did not arrange fire drills as requested. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
