Beijing launches probe as hospital fire toll rises to 29

Fire: Teams monitoring conditions of injured

The death toll from the fire at a private Beijing hospital rose to 29 on Wednesday morning, as the authorities detained 12 people and planned a thorough citywide safety inspection to eliminate potential fire risks in medical and other institutions.

Among the 29 victims of the fire at the Beijing Changfeng Hospital, 26 were patients, one was a family member and two were medical workers, said Li Zongrong, deputy head of Fengtai district where the hospital is located, at a news briefing on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased patients were between the ages of 40 and 88.

The district has set up special teams to guide the hospital in contacting family members of the victims and other patients, offer psychological counseling and judicial help, and guarantee accommodations for them in Beijing, Li said.

The deputy head of the Beijing Health Commission, Li Ang, said about 300 medical workers and 29 ambulances were rushed to the scene after the fire started on Tuesday afternoon. A total of 71 patients were evacuated and transferred for treatment to other medical institutions, where 29 were declared dead as of 9 am on Wednesday, he said.

"A total of 39 patients are still receiving treatment at nine medical institutions in Beijing, and another three have been discharged," Li Ang said, adding that the commission will closely monitor their medical conditions and allocate resources as needed.

The National Health Commission, according to its official notice, has also dispatched an expert group to closely monitor the condition of the injured and the progress of their treatment. It will strengthen guidance and support for the Beijing commission and coordinate the arrangement of drugs and equipment for effective treatment, the notice said.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation, but fire department officials said they believe it originated from welding sparks during renovation work being done in the hospital's east wing.

The chief of the private hospital and two employees of the construction company that was involved in renovation work are among the 12 people detained, according to Sun Haitao, an officer of the criminal investigation team of the city's police bureau.

Beijing Changfeng Hospital was established in 2009. The Chinese Non-government Medical Institutions Association announced on Wednesday that it has canceled the hospital's membership due to the fire.

Yin Li, secretary of the Communist Party of China Beijing Municipal Committee, said the local authorities will carry out a thorough citywide investigation to eliminate potential fire risks.

"The fire tragedy is sad and unfortunate, and it reminds us that we cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to eliminating fire risks," Yin said.

Beijing will carry out safety investigation in high-risk areas, including hospitals and nursing homes, and efforts will also be made to rule out fire risks in the use of natural gas and at construction sites, the official said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Emergency Management has directed all regions to promptly carry out fire safety inspections, giving top priority to hospitals, schools and high-rise buildings.