China’s State Council to supervise probe into fatal blaze at nursing home
At least 20 people have been confirmed dead in the fire, which broke out on Tuesday night in Chengde
The State Council, China’s cabinet, said on Wednesday that it will directly supervise the investigation and handling of the fire that killed at least 20 people in a nursing home blaze at Chengde, in the northern province of Hebei.
Chinese state media reported that the fire broke out at around 9pm on Tuesday at the home in a seniors’ residential complex in the city’s Longhua county. As of 3am on Wednesday, there were 20 confirmed fatalities, according to state news agency Xinhua.
The State Council ordered Hebei province to submit an investigation report for its review and approval. The report and follow-up punishment of those responsible, as well as any rectification measures, would be made public, it said.
Hebei police said earlier on Wednesday that the person in charge of the nursing home had been detained for investigation. Local and provincial authorities also sent dedicated teams to comfort the families of the dead and injured.
According to Jimu News, online portal for official newspaper Hubei Daily, the 300-bed Guoen Senior Home had 260 elderly residents at the time of the blaze, based on public records.
Among them were 98 people with total disabilities and 84 described as semi-disabled. The remaining 78 residents were capable of self-care, according to the records.
The facility, established in 2016, was recognised as a “grade one nursing home” by the Hebei’s provincial civil affairs department. According to the licensing record, its business scope was “providing accommodation, food, and day care for the elderly and disabled”.