42 dead in Shanghai tower block blaze - four arrests
16 November 2010
The death toll from yesterday's fire in a 28-storey residential block in Shanghai has risen to at least 42.
The building was undergoing renovation and was occupied when the fire broke at around 2.15pm local time (06.15 GMT) yesterday. The fire soon spread to almost all the floors, spreading along the bamboo scaffolding surrounding the building. Gas explosions and the crack of breaking glass were heard inside.
Some people who were trapped tried to escape by climbing onto the scaffolding outside.
Most of the building, which was only around 12-years old, was gutted in the fire.
The Xinhau news agency reports that four people have been arrested in connection with the fire, with an initial suspicion that unlicensed welders were working on the building. The investigation into the full cause of the fire is continuing.
Yesterday, some reports say as many as 90 people had been taken to hospital and 100 residents rescued from the building.
Some 61 fire engines were called to the scene and the fire was brought under control after around four hours.
A witness is reported to have seen construction materials burning before the fire spread rapidly up the scaffolding.
