Beijing hospital fire panel has 60 days to investigate deadly blaze

Investigators vow to establish the cause and find those responsible for the Chinese capital’s worst conflagration in decades

State Council work safety committee will supervise investigation and ensure reporting and investigation regulations are followed

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An investigator surveys fire damage at the Changfeng Hospital in Beijing, where 29 people died on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:00pm, 21 Apr 2023

The Beijing city government has formed an investigation panel into Tuesday’s hospital fire that killed 29 and injured 39 others, and pledged to punish those responsible, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua.

Chinese regulations on government-led investigations of this nature usually require a report to be made public 60 days from the date of the incident. The panel will also be expected to recommend punishments for anyone it finds responsible.

Authorities have detained 12 people, including the director of the hospital, over the city’s deadliest fire in decades. Among the dead were 26 elderly patients, many with limited mobility. A healthcare worker, a nurse and a visitor also died.

Officials have previously said a preliminary investigation showed that flammable paint supplies were ignited by sparks during renovation work at an inpatient department in the Beijing Changfeng Hospital in the city’s Fengtai district.

Xinhua reported on Friday that the investigation panel has vowed not to let go of the matter until “the cause of the accident is clear, responsible personnel are dealt with, rectification measures are implemented, relevant individuals are educated”.

Also on Friday, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management said representatives of the State Council’s work safety committee would be helping and supervising the investigation.

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