According to the state-run China Daily newspaper, the Work Safety Committee of the State Council has instructed local authorities to urgently conduct safety inspections and correct any problems in buildings, whether residential or commercial.
The campaign aims to prevent incidents such as those that occurred in the residential complex in Hong Kong.
The fire broke out in an apartment complex early Wednesday afternoon and quickly spread to seven of the eight 32-story buildings. The fire was not completely extinguished until Saturday (29), according to the state vehicle.
New inspections should focus primarily on detecting and correcting defects related to facilities designed to contain the spread of fires, such as fire extinguishers, hydrants and smoke control systems. Emergency exits will also be checked.
The regime’s statement calls for the problems to be quickly corrected, and indicates that serious violations will be punished.
The Ministry of Emergency Management also stated that buildings undergoing renovations will receive special attention. “We need to comprehensively strengthen fire safety management in high-rise buildings to effectively protect people’s lives and property,” the ministry said in a statement.
Initial investigations indicate that the fire broke out in scaffolding in the basement and spread quickly due to bamboo structures used in the renovation work. It also contributed to the spread of flammable insulating materials used in repairs.
According to the local fire department, the fire alarms did not pass the tests. Residents who managed to escape the fire said they did not hear the signals.
Of the 128 dead, 108 were found dead in the buildings, according to authorities. Rescue operations have now been completed, but bodies are still expected to be found during searches of the buildings.
There were already eleven people Fangs Due to the possibility of its contact with fire. The investigations seek to clarify questions regarding the use of unsafe materials and possible corruption.
This is the deadliest fire recorded in Hong Kong since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse fire.