Update | Nursing home resident lit fire killing 11 in Heilongjiang
Row over stolen money is believed to have led to deadly arson attack in Heilongjiang, with city authorities launching immediate safety review
A resident angry over some missing money lit a fire at a nursing home in Heilongjiang province yesterday, killing himself and 10 elderly patients.
The suspected arsonist, Wang Gui, 45, had been living in the Hailun city nursing home for three years since having a stroke. Two other elderly residents were treated for smoke inhalation.
The Hailun government said the fire broke out in the in-patient section of the Lianhe Nursing Home at 1.15am and it took firefighters more than an hour to extinguish it.
Wang was believed to have set the blaze in anger at an elderly resident who he accused of stealing 200 yuan (HK$250), authorities said.
He was so angry when he discovered the money was missing on Thursday afternoon that he broke windows in the ward.
Police said Wang appeared to have calmed down after speaking to his sister and officials from his village, but must have become agitated later that night.
The 450-bed nursing home was occupied by 283 mostly elderly patients, including 32 in the in-patient area.