Report issued on deadly fire in Zhejiang

Multiple breaches of safety regulations were to blame for a fire in April that led to the death of 11 people, local authorities said on Sunday, adding 20 officials have been punished for their roles in the incident.

The Zhejiang Provincial Department of Emergency Management said in a report released on its website the blaze, which took place at metalware producer Wuyi county's Weijiali Industry and Commercial Co on the afternoon of April 17, was a major accident.

Some slag that fell downstairs during illegal electric welding work at the company's second floor ignited six barrels of paint next to a wire-drawing work station and flammable fiber tiles that had been improperly stored on the first floor, the report concluded. The smoke subsequently spread to the production line on the second floor through cargo elevator shafts and to emergency stairs.

Investigators pointed out the main reasons for the fatalities were the fire doors not remaining closed as requested, which led to the quick spread of poisonous gases and kept the trapped people from escaping.

The company illegally refitted some rooms for production purposes which made fire safety facilities, such as escape stairs and automatic firefighting equipment, unusable during the fire. In addition, the company also did not arrange fire drills as requested.

Based on the investigation, authorities punished a total of 20 officials, including those in charge of fire hazard prevention, emergency management and commerce, as well as Party chiefs of the county and the township. They have been given demotions, demerits or warnings. Shuai Zhaohui, Wuyi's Party chief, has been given an intra-Party warning.

Previously nine people including Hu Weiwen, the company and building owner, had been criminally arrested for suspicion of causing a major accident.