Firefighters throughout China extinguished 10,724 fires that left 93 people dead and 58 others injured during the week-long Spring Festival holiday, the Ministry of Public Security announced on Wednesday.

The death toll dropped 43 percent from the same period last year, while the number of injuries fell 35 percent and the total number of fires reported declined 36 percent.

According to the ministry, financial losses caused by the fires totaled 41.3 million yuan (US$5.0 million), down 43.6 percent from a year earlier.

Ahead of the holiday, police stepped up surveillance of tourism areas, public gathering sites, shopping malls, markets, entertainment venues and construction sites, which contributed to the reduction in fires and in life and property losses.

Police and firefighters said they would remain on high alert until the Lantern Festival, another major public holiday that falls on February 24.

Fires during previous Lunar New Year holidays were largely caused by fireworks, which are now banned in hundreds of major Chinese cities. Lighting firecrackers is a traditional ritual in China, once believed to frighten away evil spirits while ringing in the new year.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2005)