Shanghai tragedy was not inevitable
I was shocked and saddened by the deaths of dozens of people in last month's fire in Shanghai.
It was a shame that such a tragedy, where the victims were mostly retired teachers, came so soon after the success of the Shanghai Expo. For a brief time, Shanghai's international standing was raised, but now its reputation is tarnished.
Such a tragedy could have been avoided if better safety regulations were in place. The fire was believed to have been started accidentally by welders who ignited bamboo scaffolding and netting that encased the building while it was undergoing renovations.
A major city like Shanghai should enforce much tighter building and construction safety codes. There are many skyscrapers in cities across the mainland. Officials must ensure that fire departments have appropriate, modern equipment to fight blazes in any type of building.
Families of the victims must be compensated without delay. Officials should look into the cause of the fire and find the culprits before a similar tragedy takes place again.
