Beijing: As many as 1,144 persons have been killed and 827 others injured in various fire-related incidents from January to September this year in China, causing direct economic losses of 2.74 billion yuan (USD 406.8 million).
The Ministry of Public Security here said that 7,271 of the disasters occurred in residential areas and 4,894 of them were caused by electric glitches, state run Xinhua news agency reported.
Fire casualties in cities were lower as compared to those in rural areas, it said.
The ministry said it will take more preventative measures and work with other departments on a three-year campaign to address the production of shoddy electrical products and illegal renovations of old buildings.
PTI
