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Stella Lee

FIRE swept through a plastic toy factory near the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone yesterday afternoon, killing ''dozens'' - perhaps as many as 80 workers - and leaving as many others injured, according to a Shenzhen government official.

  Shenzhen sources identified the three-storey factory as the Zhili Handicrafts Company in Kuiyong.

  It was confirmed by the official China News Service as having Hong Kong interests.

  Kuiyong is about 50 kilometres northeast of Hong Kong and midway between Shenzhen City and Daya Bay.

  ''The casualties were 112 people and among them dozens were dead,'' said Li Xiaogan, a spokesman for the Shenzhen Government.

  Radio reports quoted Mr Li as saying that more than 80 people had died in the fire.

  He said the fire broke out at 1.40 pm and was put out about three hours later.

  Shenzhen Mayor Li Youwei was said to be at the scene directing the fire-fighting operations.

  The cause of the fire was not known, Mr Li Xioagan said. ''We are still investigating the cause.''   Shenzhen Television reported that the casualty figure was high because ''windows of the factory were sealed, its passages congested and many factory workers suffocated''.

  The station said more than 200 workers had been in the factory at the time of the fire and many were sleeping or taking a rest after lunch.

  The windows of the dormitories were said to be closed because of the cold weather. Piles of goods stored in the factory were believed to have fuelled the fire.

  Some reports said there had been an explosion in a fuse box shortly before the blaze started. There had also been problems with the communications systems at the factory, which delayed the arrival of emergency teams.

  Witnesses said that although firemen arrived at the scene within 15 minutes, their efforts were hampered by low water pressure.

  Shenzhen authorities deployed 19 fire engines and 200 police and soldiers to fight the blaze.

  Shenzhen police sources said the casualty figure was 114. It was not immediately clear why there were discrepancies.

  The sources said most of the casualties came amid a stampede to flee the plant as the fire belched toxic smoke.

  Reports from the scene said a truck had been used to take the corpses away.

  At least 21 victims were believed to be at the Longgang People's Hospital and many had serious burns.

  Four seriously injured victims were being treated at the Shenzhen People's No 2 Hospital.

  Late last night, firemen and rescue workers remained at the scene, snuffing out the remaining flames, according to police sources.

  Police sealed off the area shortly after 9 pm.

  Other sources said the Zhili Handicrafts Factory was set up in Kuiyong in 1989 by a Hong Kong businessman from Shunde County, Guangdong province.

  It is inside an industrial park where there are also petrochemical plants. It mainly assembles plastic toys with electronic components.

  The Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen, Li Guangzhen, said the Hong Kong factory owner was believed to be in the Philippines.

  Asked if the families of the victims would receive any compensation, he said it was too early to decide what would be done to help them.

  ''Our first task is to rescue and get people recovered from the fire,'' he said.

  He would not say whether he was satisfied with the way the rescue had been carried out. Li Guangzhen had visited the scene of the fire but said it had been too dark to see the extent of the damage.

  He visited the hospital last night with Guangdong's police chief, Chen Zhouji, and Shenzhen's police chief, Liang Dayuen.

  They visited some of the casualties and then met hospital officials.

  Yesterday's blaze was the second major industrial accident in Shenzhen this year. A disastrous explosion occurred in a dangerous goods storage area in the Qingshuihe Warehouse Zone in early August, killing 15 people and injuring more than 500.

  Guangdong has more than 3,000 toy factories, most of them owned by Hong Kong firms.

  Last night, a leading figure in the toy industry said this was one of the quietest times of the year.

  Thomas Chan Chun-hoo, managing director of Playmates International Holdings Ltd, said most mainland China toy factories had cleared their Christmas orders months ago and they would not be rushing to meet production deadlines.

  ''Generally, at this time of the year they would not be so busy. The business is so seasonal. The season starts from about May and goes through to July or August,'' he said.

  The Guangdong factories produce more than 80 per cent of the toys which Hong Kong re-exports.

  Mr Chan said that, with the whole of Guangdong province to choose from, Hong Kong manufacturers still chose Shenzhen and the surrounding area because it was convenient.

  ''They are able to go to work and back on the same day. They set up factories next to the border and nearby,'' he said.



'Windows of the factory were sealed and many workers suffocated'