7 staff members under police custody for Central China school fire

ZHENGZHOU -- Seven members of staff have been put under police custody for a school dormitory fire that killed 13 students and injured another one last week in Central China's Henan province, local authorities said on Tuesday.

A comprehensive investigation into the cause and the nature of the fire at the school in Fangcheng County is under way. In the meantime, an accountability investigation has been launched, and those who are responsible for the fire as a result of dereliction of duty will be held accountable, according to a statement by the county government.

The findings of the investigations will be disclosed in due course, said the statement.

A work team was dispatched to Henan to guide rescue and aftermath work after the fire broke out on the night of Jan 19, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.