Top officials escape blame in Jilin poultry plant fire, critics say

Mainland social media commentators and residents complain that senior officials are escaping responsibility for a poultry plant fire that killed 121 people in Jilin province a month ago.

So far, only 11 junior officials have been detained for dereliction of duty, which contributed to the deaths in the fire.

A Supreme People's Procuratorate inquiry showed that the officials, who include the Mishazi township fire chief, are being held responsible for the blaze, Xinhua reported.

It also said some of the officials, including two firemen, falsified information to hide the fact that "proper fire safety equipment was not in place" at the Jilin Baoyuanfeng poultry processing plant on June 3.

The detentions have raised public concern, since the authorities have not indicated if higher-level officials would be held accountable.

"These small potatoes are just scapegoats," read one post on Sina Weibo, China's popular microblogging service. "The accident should not have happened and could have been completely avoided if the officials put more effort in their work."