Jilin mayor resigned for deadly blaze
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-04-19 09:03

The Jilin provincial government on Saturday agreed to the resignation of Jilin City Mayor Gang Zhanbiao over a commercial building fire.

The tragedy occurred at the Zhongbai commercial building in Jilin City on February 15, leaving 54 dead and some 70 others injured. The fire was attributed to a lit cigarette which was dropped inside a storage area of the building.

The provincial government also announced punishment for other officials on the same day.

Jilin Vice-Mayor Cai Yuhe was given a disciplinary warning and a demerit record.

Liu Wenbin, director of the Jilin commercial committee, was given a serious disciplinary warning and an administrative demotion.

Yang Kaibao, deputy director of the Jilin commercial committee, was dismissed from all Party and administrative posts.

Five people directly responsible for the tragedy have been transferred to the judicial department.

The fire struck the second floor of the building, located at a downtown crossroads linking two major streets. The first and second floors of the building were for shopping, while other floors were for bathing services, playing billiards and disco.

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