Thread: Dozens Killed In Huge Shanghai Building Blaze

Nice building standards.
I know people sing the praises of bamboo scaffolding, but there is something to be said about steel scaffolding.

Was this the one on YouTube where they built the whole 28 floors in under 3 minutes?

Shanghai Jin An District Jiaozhou Road Apartment Fire Photos

by Fauna on Wednesday, November 17, 2010

This is already old news (there is good English reporting on Shanghaiist) but here are some photographs throughout the unfortunate event. A lot of the reporting of this fire happened online by Chinese netizens, and there have been many complaints and criticism about the poor reporting by the Shanghai media. Many English reports have already mentioned this so I was hesitant to post about this but I wanted to share a little bit more about what Chinese netizens are talking about with regards to the fire.

From NetEase:

Shanghai Teachers Apartment Fire Pictorial Report

November 15th, 2pm, A 28-story apartment building on Jiaozhou Road near Yuyao Road in downtown Shanghai caught fire, with 53 people dead at present. Official reports: At 6:30pm, the fire has basically been put out, firefighters have entered the building, to put out any remaining fires, and to search and rescue any remaining residents within.
[click to enlarge, or view as slideshow]


November 16th, the high-rise residential building on Jiaozhou Road in Shanghai where a serious fire occurred.

November 16th, firefighters cleaning up at the high-rise residential building where a serious fire broke out.

Inside a temporary arrangement center at the Jing An district youth amateur sports school, an emotional crowd is interviewed by reporters.

A bulletin board at the temporary arrangement center.

Family members anxiously search for loved ones on a patient list at a hospital.

Inside the Shanghai Jin An district youth amateur sports school temporary arrangement center, residents affected by the disaster hold each other, deep in grief.

Inside the Shanghai Jin An district youth amateur sports school temporary arrangement center, residents affected by the disaster hold each other.

Inside the Fangyang Hotel on Yuyao Road.

Residents [of the fire-stricken building] and medical care personnel at the No. 1 City Middle School temporary arrangement center.

Minor injury victims kept for observation.


A young person looks for a missing elderly person amongst the scene of the fire.

Firefighters on the scene rescuing the injured.

Firefighters on the scene rescuing the injured.

Rescuing the injured masses.

Firefighters on the scene rescuing the injured.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district, medical personnel awaiting orders.

November 15th, a resident rescued out of the burning building.

November 15th, a resident rescued out of the burning building.

Firefighters have now already entered the building, extinguishing any remaining fires, searching and rescuing any remaining residents within.


Early morning of the 16th, rain in Shanghai, the scene of the building fire.

Late night on the 15th, the Jiaozhou Road building in Shanghai where nighttime search and rescue efforts were underway.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district, a man is trapped by the fire awaiting rescue. The scaffolding around a high-rise residential building at the intersection of Jiaozhou Road and Yuyao Road that was undergoing exterior renovations suddenly caught fire. There were over ten people gathered on the top floor of the burning building waving their hands waiting for rescue. At present, ambulances have already taken injured people away from the scene, while the traffic on Jiaozhou Road is essentially paralyzed.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district. According to nearby residents, many retired teachers live in the Teachers Apartments located at 718 Jiaozhou Road, and that the fire started between the 10th and 12th floors. At present, the entire building has been enveloped by the large fire, although there are still many residents who have not yet evacuated within. The police have already set up police lines along several of the surrounding streets.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district.

November 15th at 2pm, a high-rise apartment building at Yuyao Road and Jiaozhou Road in Shanghai suddenly caught fire . A resident (in the red circle) is on the scaffolding seeking help.

November 15th at 2pm, a high-rise apartment building at Yuyao Road and Jiaozhou Road in Shanghai suddenly caught fire . A resident (in the red circle) is on the scaffolding seeking help.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district. On the roof are over 10 people (in the red circle) gathered on the top floor of the burning building, waving their arms awaiting rescue.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district. On the roof are over 10 people (in the red circle) gathered on the top floor of the burning building, waving their arms awaiting rescue.

November 15th, a helicopter and rescuer arrives at the scene of the fire.

November 15th, a firefighter with the help of a helicopter enters the burning building to help rescue.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district. There are still many residents who have not yet evacuated within the building. The police have already set up police lines along several of the surrounding streets.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district, a crowd looks on at the scene.

This is a shot of the scene of the fire taken from afar on November 15th.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district, fire engines with scaling ladders have reached the scene.

This is a shot of the scene of the fire on November 15th.

November 15th, firefighters extinguishing flames at the scene of the fire.

November 15th, firefighters extinguishing flames at the scene of the fire.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district.

November 15th, rescue personnel prepare to enter the scene of the fire to search and rescue.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district, residents look on nearby.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district.

November 15th afternoon, a large fire broke out at a large building at the Jiaozhou Road Yanping Road intersection in Shanghai’s Jing An district.

November 15th night, the Shanghai Yuyao Road Jiaozhou Road high-rise building fire continues to burn, while nighttime rescue workers press on.

November 15th, firefighters extinguishing flames at the scene of the fire.

November 15th, a firefighter is extinguishing flames in the upper floors. Shanghai officials report: As of 6:30pm, the fire has basically been extinguished. Firefighters have already entered the building to put out remaining fires and search and rescue any residents remaining within.

November 15th, firefighters extinguishing flames at the scene of the fire. Residents of the burning building as well as those at 728 Jiaozhou Road, 718 Jiaozhou Road #2, and 999 Changde Road have already been relocated to a nearby assembly point, awaiting communication from the command center to arrange hotel lodgings.

November 15th, two firefighters enter the structure to control the fire situation.

Firefighters have now already entered the building to extinguish any remaining fires and search and rescue any remaining residents within.

Firefighters have now already entered the building to extinguish any remaining fires and search and rescue any remaining residents within.

Originally Posted by keda

Was this the one on YouTube where they built the whole 28 floors in under 3 minutes?

Ark Hotel Construction time lapse building 15 storeys in 2 days

Surprised only so few were killed compared to what could have been; most of the time the stairwells are filled with trash and discarded furniture here.

Thirteen arrested over Shanghai high-rise fire
27/11/2010

Thirteen people have been arrested over the high-rise apartment block fire that killed 58 people in Shanghai this month, local media said.


People gathering at a makeshift memorial for the victims of the high-rise apartment block fire that killed 58 people in Shanghai this month. The fire on November 15 blazed for several hours, causing panicked residents to jump from the inferno or seek refuge on rickety construction scaffolding.

At least 12 people were already reported to be in custody but they have only now been formally arrested by Shanghai prosecutors, media reports said on Saturday.

The suspects include the former CEO of a Jingan district construction company and the former head of Shanghai Jiayi, a construction and interior design firm, local newspaper Dongfang Zaobao reported.

Officials from a company overseeing the 28-storey building's management and renovation have also been placed under arrest, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.

The fire on November 15 blazed for several hours, causing panicked residents to jump from the inferno or seek refuge on rickety construction scaffolding.

A preliminary investigation blamed the blaze, which eventually claimed 58 lives, on careless work by unlicensed welders who ignited nylon netting swathing the building as it was being renovated.

Eight people suffering minor injuries from the fire left hospital on Thursday and Friday, while 14 with serious injuries are in a stable condition in intensive care, according to Dongfang Zaobao.

Tens of thousands took to the streets of Shanghai last Sunday to pay tribute to the victims of the fire, which also prompted a nationwide review of fire safety.

Artist and social critic Ai Weiwei meanwhile launched a "citizen's investigation" to list the names of those who died, after authorities refused to release them, citing unwillingness on the part of some bereaved families.

"I'm doing this because in China for every accident -- whether it's an earthquake, a mining disaster or a fire -- they never publish the names of the victims," Ai said.

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