Beijing Demolishes Illegal Apartments Following Deadly Blaze

By Justine Lopez

Authorities have been busy demolishing illegal structures around the city following a recent fire in Daxing that killed 19 people and injured eight others, Global Times reports.

In response to the deadly fire, Cai Qi, secretary of the Communist Party, called for 40 days of citywide safety inspections and the demolition of more illegal structures.

"Lessons of the fire is extremely grave. The city must be on high alert. We must take actions and protect people's lives and safeguard the safety and stability of the capital," he said.

READ MORE: Beijing Police Detain 18 After Apartment Fire Kills 19

Governments in each district have now issued firm deadlines for tenants to move out of illegal structures. One example is in the suburb of Dongba in Chaoyang. Residents of one apartment complex were told on Tuesday that they must move out before Wednesday at noon.

Citywide inspections and demolitions will occur through the end of December.

The blaze occurred on November 18 in a three-story apartment building – which housed over 400 tenants – in Xinjian Village in Daxing. The fire broke out in the basement, where a refrigeration facility was being built. All 19 victims died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Authorities detained seven apartment managers, seven electricity workers and four construction workers. According to the police, the workers did not have the proper qualifications.

Police are still investigating the cause of the fire.

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