1994 Karamay fire

Infobox News event


caption=
date= start date|1994|12|08
time=
place=Karamay, People's Republic of China
casualties1=325 dead [Xinhuanet. " [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/22/content_10088618.htm Xinhuanet.com] ." "South China club fire kills at least 43, injures 88." Retrieved on 2008-09-27.] The 1994 Karamay fire is considered one of the worst civilian fires in the history of the People's Republic of China that occurred on December 8, 1994. A fire broke out in a theatre hosting 1,000 children and teachers in Karamay, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [The New York Times. " [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E4D91039F933A25751C1A962958260 The NYtimes.com] ." "China Orders Safety Study After Fire Kills 300." Retrieved on 2008-09-28.] During the fire, the people were told to remain seated to allow Communist Party officials to leave first.Times. " [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article1752202.ece Timesonline.co.uk] ." "China aghast at ‘sacrifice’ of 288 pupils." Retrieved on 2008-09-27.] Reuters. " [http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSPEK242373 Reuters.com] ." "China 1994 fire killed 288 pupils as officials fled-expose." Retrieved on 2008-09-27.] The end resulted in a catastrophe of 325 deaths with 288 of them being school children.

Incident

Fire

On December 8, 1994, 500 schoolchildren were taken to a special variety performance at a theatre in Karamay at Friendship Theatre (友谊馆). Most were the best and brightest pupils in their classes, aged between seven and 14. From the accounts of survivors, it appears that lamps near the stage either short-circuited or fell. The scenery caught fire, then exploded and engulfed the auditorium within a minute or two.

Controversy

The first few seconds was the most controversial of the disaster. Survivors insist that a woman official immediately stood up and shouted: “Everyone keep quiet. Don’t move. Let the leaders go first.” She has since been identified in online articles as Kuang Li, who was vice-director of the state petroleum company’s local education centre. Though there has been no official confirmation of this. The teachers obeyed, and the children remain seated. By the time the Communist Party leaders had filed out, it was too late. Teachers hurried the pupils out of their seats to other exits, only to find that the emergency doors were locked. Parents and survivors alleged that Kuang took refuge in a ladies’ cloakroom that could have sheltered 30 people and barred the doors behind her. A 10 year old boy said "My teacher asked me to run out of the theatre, but when I stood up the hall was smothered in smoke and fire. The power then cut out. People could see nothing. The place was full of crying and shouting."

Aftermath

A total of 325 deaths with 288 of them being school children. Most of the 36 adults were teachers. About 100 corpses were heaped up outside the cloakroom. In 1995, 300 families of the dead and injured sent representatives to the National People’s Congress in Beijing, supposedly the venue for Chinese citizens to seek justice and a fair hearing. They were led off by security guards to a walled government compound, where five buses took them back to the airport. The group were then escorted through special channels to a plane bound for Xinjiang.

A court convicted a total of 14 people. Four of them senior officials who neglected their duty and imposed prison sentences of up to five years.

Families received compensation of up to 50,589 yuan.

References

ee also

* 2000 Luoyang christmas fire