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China warns against potential fire danger in public transport

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-19 21:54

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Public Security warned Friday about potential fire danger in public transport vehicles after four bus blazes across the country this month.

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Fire departments and city transportation management should carry out safety inspections on fire prevention facilities, see to the installation of equipment such as emergency hammers and keep dangerous articles off buses, according to a news bulletin posted on the ministry website.

The ministry also urged authorities to promote fire prevention knowledge on buses and rectify practices that fail to meet firefighting standards.

A June 5 bus blaze in Chengdu, capital of southwest Sichuan Province, which killed 27 people and injured 76, prompted a nationwide inspection of bus facilities.

Three other bus blazes have been reported since the Chengdu accident: in Shenzhen of southern Guangdong Province on June 13, in Wuhai of north Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on June 15 and in Zhoushan of coastal Zhejiang Province on June 16.

Prompt evacuations avoided injuries in those three fires, according to the ministry.