Beijing: Seventy-one people have been found responsible for a deadly fire last year triggered by an illegal fireworks display at the new headquarters of China's powerful state broadcaster, including 44 who face criminal charges, state media reported on Wednesday.
China's Cabinet also ordered CCTV to pay a USD 440,000
fine for the Feb 9, 2009, blaze that killed one fire-fighter,
the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Six fire-fighters and
two construction workers were injured.
CCTV arranged and paid for the unlicensed fireworks
display at its complex in downtown Beijing to mark the end of
the Lunar New Year festival. The fire engulfed a 159-meter,
44-story building that was to house a luxury Mandarin Oriental
Hotel and was just weeks away from opening.
In April, China's Cabinet ordered an investigation into
the incident, indicating a high level of political sensitivity
surrounding it. Such Cabinet investigations are usually
reserved for major catastrophes causing huge loss of life.
The Xinhua report, posted on the Web site of the State
Council, China's Cabinet, is the first public announcement of
the investigation's findings.
Xinhua said 44 people are being prosecuted while 27
others have been given administrative punishments for their
roles in the disaster.
Among those facing criminal charges are the former head
of CCTV's construction bureau, Xu Wei, and the vice head of
the new CCTV site, Wang Shirong, it said. Earlier news reports
alleged that Xu had ordered that the powerful pyrotechnics be
used, while ignoring safety warnings.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, February 11, 2010, 00:05