Society

42 killed in high-rise building fire in Shanghai

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-15 18:01

Death toll from the fire in a downtown Shanghai apartment block Monday had risen to 42.

 

Firefighters try to extinguish the fire at a high-rise apartment building in Shanghai, Nov 15, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

SHANGHAI - Firefighters have brought under control a blaze that killed at least eight people in a downtown Shanghai apartment block Monday, municipal authorities said.

Firefighters had entered the building to put out remaining flames and rescue residents, according to a statement from Shanghai municipal publicity office.

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The 28-story building at the intersection of Jiaozhou Road and Yuyao Road in Jing'an District was being renovated when it caught fire at about 2 pm, said the statement.

More than 90 people have been taken to nearby hospitals and more than 100 residents had been rescued from the building, which houses 156 families.

Residents of the building and three neighboring apartment blocks had gathered in nearby shelters, waiting for temporary accommodation arrangements from the rescue headquarters, the statement said.

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

The fire was brought under control after fire fighters set up hoses on top of a nearby building. The upper half of the building, which was beyond the reach of fire appliances, was engulfed by flames.

The statement said 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.

A total of 25 fire units and 61 fire engines were dispatched to the scene.

At least three helicopters are hovering over the burning building, trying to rescue residents from the roof, but their efforts are being hampered by thick smoke.

A resident surnamed Zhang, who lives on the top floor, said she and a dozen neighbors escaped down the fire exit stairs.

"At first, I saw smoke belching out of the window and soon the room was engulfed by smoke too," said a woman worker surnamed Qian, who was installing thermal insulation on the 28th floor, and escaped down the fire exit stairs.