Beijing to make safety sweep in wake of hospital fire

Beijing will conduct a citywide investigation and rectification of safety risks to identify and eliminate problems after a hospital fire on Tuesday afternoon that killed 29 people, a senior capital official said during a meeting on Wednesday morning.

Yin Li, secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, said the government will treat the injured and determine the cause of the fire as soon as possible.

The safety investigation will start in six major high-risk areas, including hospitals and nursing homes. It will focus on the potential risks of construction sites, electric bicycles and natural gas use.

"The fire's consequences are painful. It rings an alarm bell and reminds us that safety must never be loosened and we cannot rest for a moment in identifying and eliminating fire hazards," Yin said.

As the five-day May Day holiday draws near, there will be more visitors and events held in the city. All districts and departments should make strict safety checks in advance to prevent a disaster, he said.

Meanwhile, the authorities should respond to social concerns and publish timely information, he said.

The city government held a news conference in Fengtai district, where the hospital is located, at 12:30 pm on Wednesday. Several city departments — police, health, fire and rescue, along with Fengtai district officials — released information about the hospital fire.