China tightens building rules after deadly fire

SHANGHAI: Authorities in Shanghai have pledged to step up supervision of construction projects, nearly two months after a fire engulfed a high-rise apartment building in the Chinese city and left 58 dead.

A preliminary investigation blamed the inferno in the 28-storey block on careless work by unlicensed welders who ignited nylon netting swathing the building, which was being renovated to improve energy efficiency.

Officials will increase safety checks on construction sites and "severely punish" those responsible for irregular projects, the city government said on its website, citing rules released at a press conference on Tuesday.

Companies wanting to subcontract work will first have to receive government approval, it said.

The city will also set up a centralised database with information on construction workers.

Projects that do not meet regulatory requirements or fail to register with the government will be stopped, it said.

Thirteen people have been arrested over the high-rise apartment block fire on November 15, which raged for several hours and caused panicked residents to jump from the blaze or seek refuge on rickety construction scaffolding.

Local media have raised questions about the allegedly close relations between the subcontractor and authorities of the Jingan district, where the building was located, fuelling suspicions of corruption and negligence.