Supreme procuratorate looks into fatal rest home fire

BEIJING -- Prosecutors have joined a central government's team to investigate into the suspected crimes involved in the rest home fire which killed 38, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said on Wednesday.

A fire broke out late evening on Monday at a row of bungalows at privately owned Kangleyuan Rest Home in Lushan county of Henan province, central China. The blaze swept through the complex, home to 51 senior citizens, killing 38 of them and injuring another six.

The home's legal representative is in police custody and all workers are being questioned by the police.

The investigation team will pay special attention to crimes including dereliction of duty, power abuse and self-seeking malpractices, the SPP announced.

President Xi Jinping on Tuesday ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire, demanded safety departments nationwide to "bear in mind safety management" to avoid similar incidents.