71 responsible for CCTV building fire punished
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Seventy one people have been held responsible for the 2009 CCTV building fire that left one fireman dead and brought direct economic losses of 163.83 million yuan (23.99 million U.S. dollars), a statement from the State Council said Wednesday.
Zhao Huayong, who stepped down as head of the state broadcaster in May 2009 after reaching the official retirement age of 60, will receive an administrative demotion along with a severe warning from the Communist Party of China, the statement said.
Of the 71 held responsible, 44 will be referred to the courts for prosecution while 27 others will suffer party and administrative disciplinary measures.
Illegal fireworks caused the blaze in the 30-story building in Beijing's central business district on the night of Feb. 9, 2009. The building housed the nearly-completed Mandarin Oriental Hotel and part of CCTV's new headquarters.
A fireman died and eight, including six firemen and two construction workers, were injured in the blaze.
The State Council also announced punishment for people implicated in another two major work safety accidents last year.
Last February, a fatal gas blast killed 78 miners, injured 114 and brought direct economic losses of 23.86 million yuan in China's Shanxi Province.
Of the 41 held responsible for the accident in the Tunlan Coal Mine of the state-owned Shanxi Coking Coal Group, six have been referred to courts for prosecution and the other 35 have received party and administrative disciplinary measures.
People responsible for another fatal accident in the Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality have also received penalties, the statement said.
The colliery gas burst at Tonghua Coal Mine in Chongqing last May left 30 people dead, 79 injured and brought direct economic losses of 12.19 million yuan.
Of the 39 held responsible, eight have been arrested and 31 have been given party and administrative disciplinary measures, including removal from office and receiving demerit in their official records.
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