The Taiwanese owner of the department store being renovated at the time of the Luoyang fire has not been detained by investigators, according to an employee of a regional Taiwan investors' group.
The employee, named Xia, said Wang Ren-sheng was still in the Henan provincial capital, Zhengzhou, yesterday. Mr Wang started the first Dennis Merchandising department store in the city about two years ago and is chairman of the Taiwan Zhengzhou Investors' Association.
Mr Xia claimed Mr Wang bore no responsibility for the fire, as Dennis Merchandising had only rented the upper level of the basement.
The fire reportedly started on the lower level.
'Mr Wang called us this morning and told us that he was fine. He has not been arrested. Losses incurred should not be that much as the store has not opened yet,' Mr Xia said.
The store was originally due to open yesterday.
Mr Wang could not be reached for comment yesterday.
