8 detained over massive high-rise fire

Investigation into blaze that killed 53 focuses on unlicensed welders

SHANGHAI - Eight people were detained on Tuesday on suspicion of accidentally starting a fire that engulfed a downtown high-rise apartment building killing at least 53 people on Monday.

"Preliminary investigation shows that unlicensed welders worked, against regulations, on the scaffolding, setting off the fire," Cheng Jiulong, deputy director of the Shanghai public security bureau, told a news conference. He did not say if all those detained were workers.