IN BRIEF (Page 5)

Tianjin

Discarded rubbish blamed for fire

A high-rise apartment building fire in Tianjin's Hexi district, which caused 10 deaths and five injuries, was caused by piles of sundries and discarded decorating materials near the elevator at the 38th floor, investigators said on Sunday. The fire, which broke out on early Friday, spread unchecked because construction companies had emptied firefighting water storage tanks for their own use, investigators said, adding that the companies had also furnished illegal accommodations at the scene. According to investigators, 11 suspects, including seven from a Tianjin business, have been criminally detained. Firefighters said an area of about 300 square meters was damaged.