A total of 188,600 fires occurred in China last year, killing 3,021 people, injuring 4,404 and causing 1.52 billion yuan (US$184 million) of direct economic loss, according to figures released by China’s fire control authority under the Ministry of Public Security Monday.
Among the fires some 61 were extremely large, killing 529 people, sources said, adding that the number of those killed in extremely large fires was 141.6 percent more than that in the previous year.
According to the sources, last year 408 people were killed in four fires occurring at public entertainment places like karaoke and kinescope halls.
China’s fire control officials said that at least 80 percent of the fires last year were caused by misuse of dangerous items such as gases and electricity.
The lack of fire-prevention awareness and fire-control facilities is another major reason for fires, the official source said, adding that among the 262 major Chinese cities 40 have not made any fire prevention or control plans.
The source pointed out that the situation is even worse in the country’s less developed western regions where the lack of fire-control facilities in public places is prevalent.
(eastday.com 02/13/2001)
