City launches campaign after factory fire tragedy

Production safety should be the overriding priority and problems should be thoroughly tackled to safeguard the lives and property of the people, said a top official at a conference in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, on Tuesday.

Zhu Chonglie, Party secretary of Jinhua, said the city should learn from the fire that took place in the city's Wuyi county on April 17, and eliminate potential risks.

Eleven people died in a factory fire in Wuyi county on Monday, an official announcement from the local government said on Tuesday.

The blaze broke out just after 2 pm on Monday.

First responders, including firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel, rushed to the scene after an emergency call said people were trapped on the third floor, according to the announcement.

Two rounds of search and rescue operations were carried out by 4 am on Tuesday after the fire was brought under control. Eleven bodies were found, the announcement said.

Those alleged to be responsible for the incident have been detained and a more thorough investigation is underway, the announcement added.

"There are no outsiders when it comes to production safety, and departments at all levels must shoulder their responsibilities and stick to their positions," Zhu pointed out.

Those who fail to do so will be held accountable and face serious consequences, he emphasized.

The fire was reported to have started in a three-story plant where wooden doors are made, possibly from materials such as wood, paint and packaging.

Authorities said that nine special working groups, dealing with the rescue operation, the cause of the fire and other matters related to the incident, have been set up.

A 100-day campaign across the city, including Wuyi county where the tragedy took place, was ordered during the conference to comprehensively check for security risks and remove fire hazards.