2010 Shanghai fire
Firefighters were unable to extinguish the fire from the ground. | |
| Date | 15 November 2010 |
|---|---|
| Time | 14:15 CST (06:15 UTC) |
| Location | No. 1, Alley 718 Jiaozhou Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai, China |
| Coordinates | 31°14′15″N 121°26′06″E / 31.23750°N 121.43500°E |
| Also known as | Chinese: 上海“11·15”特别重大火灾; lit. 'Shanghai '11·15' especially serious fire' |
| Deaths | 58 (36 missing) |
| Non-fatal injuries | 70–120 |
The 2010 Shanghai fire was a fire on 15 November 2010 that destroyed a 28-story high-rise apartment building in the heart of Shanghai, China, killing at least 58 people and injuring more than 70 others (with at least one source reporting more than 120 others injured). Most of the residents were retired state school senior educators. It is remembered as an iconic high-rise fire in China in the 2010s.
An investigation under the PRC State Council was announced on 16 November, the day after the fire, to determine the cause of the blaze. A preliminary finding by investigators concluded that sparks from welding work being done on the building, undertaken by unlicensed welders, ignited scaffolding around the structure, which led to the apartments' destruction. The municipal government also placed the blame on illegal multi-layered subcontracting, and detained four managers from several construction companies. In all, sixteen individuals have been arrested in connection to the fire, as well as four others accused of being unlicensed welders.
The week after the fire, city officials announced a compensation plan for victims of the fire and their families. The fire also prompted the government to pass stricter regulations on the construction industry, as well as increased fire safety inspections. The New York Times reported that China suppressed several building complaints, and several journalists were detained after the fire. The Asia Times wrote that an alleged slow response by the government was criticized.