5 school officials under investigation for deadly dormitory fire last year

Chinese authorities have released the cause of a dormitory fire that killed 13 students at a school in Henan province, further revealing on Wednesday that five people have been subjected to criminal coercive measures.

The individuals are being investigated on suspicion of causing a major safety incident involving the school premises, according to a statement from Henan Fire and Rescue.

The blaze broke out on Jan 19, 2024, at the Yingcai School in Yanshanpu village. In addition to the fatalities, four people were injured and 17.5 million yuan ($2.5 million) in direct economic losses were incurred as a result of the fire. Investigators determined that all victims died from smoke inhalation.

The fire was ignited by an 8-year-old student who used a lighter to burn a loose thread on his quilt, the statement said. The flame quickly spread to clothing on an adjacent wooden bed and intensified due to the high volume of bedding and wooden materials in the room.

While local emergency departments — including public security, healthcare, and fire and rescue — responded to the scene, officials noted the school's own response was lacking. Their statement said the school lacked the capability to handle the initial stage of the fire and failed to effectively organize evacuations or control the flames before they spread.

Those subjected to the measures include Li Yu, the school's founder and de facto controller; Xu Xiangyang, the principal; Jia Xia, the dormitory supervisor and third-grade head teacher for the room where the fire started; Li Jizhong, the school's registered organizer; and Han Qingpo, the teaching and research director.

In addition to the criminal investigation, authorities recommended disciplinary action from the Communist Party of China for 25 others, including officials from the local education bureau, fire and rescue, and housing departments.

The school's operating license has been revoked. Authorities cited a litany of violations, including illegal educational activities, unauthorized land use, and the use of unsafe buildings.

The Fangcheng county and Nanyang city governments are ordered to submit formal self-criticism reports to higher-level government bodies in the wake of the disaster.

Contact the writers at wangsongsong@chinadaily.com.cn