The Jilin provincial people's government Saturday agreed to the resignation of Jilin Mayor Gang Zhanbiao over a commercial building fire in Jilin City in northeast China's Jilin Province.  

The tragedy occurred at the Zhongbai commercial building in Jilin City on Feb. 15, leaving 54 dead and some 70 injured. The fire was attributed to a lit cigarette dropped in a warehouse of the building.

The provincial government also announced punishment for other officials on the same day.

Cai Yuhe, deputy-mayor of Jilin City, was given a disciplinary warning and a demerit record.

Liu Wenbin, director of the Jilin municipal commercial committee, was given a serious disciplinary warning and an administrative demotion.

Yang Kaibao, deputy-director of the Jilin municipal commercial committee, was dismissed from all party posts and administrative posts.

Five people directly responsible for the tragedy have been transferred to the jurisdictional departments.

The fire struck the second floor of the building, which is located at a downtown crossroads linking two major streets. The first and second floors of the building were for shopping, the third for bathing services, the fourth for billiard game and the fifth a disco.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2004)