Firefighters use illuminating facility to search for survivors on the residential building in the downtown area of Shanghai, east China, Nov. 16, 2010. The death toll of a big fire that engulfed a high-rise building in downtown Shanghai had risen to 53 by 9:20 a.m. Tuesday, local authorities said. More than 70 people injured are being hospitalized. (Xinhua)
More than 70 people injured in the inferno are being hospitalized.
The 28-story building at the intersection of Jiaozhou Road and Yuyao Road in Jing'an District, a densely-populated area in Shanghai, was being renovated when it caught fire at about 2:15 p.m. Monday.
The fire was mostly extinguished at 6:30 p.m. after local authorities dispatched 25 fire units and more than 100 fire engines to the scene. Helicopters were sent to rescue people trapped on the roof.
The cause of the fire remained unknown, but a witness said he saw construction materials burning before the fire climbed up the scaffolding and quickly spread.
Jing'an District government has arranged food and accommodations for fire-affected residents evacuated to nearby hotels.
Residents said the building, built in the 1990s, housed mainly teachers from several schools in Jing'an District, many of whom were retired.
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China's police chief calls for thorough investigation on cause of Shanghai high-rise fire
SHANGHAI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu early Tuesday morning called for a thorough investigation into the cause of Monday's fatal fire in a downtown Shanghai residential building.
People responsible for the accident, which had claimed 42 lives by 10 p.m. Monday, would be punished in accordance with laws, Meng said. Full story
Investigation team set up for Shanghai high-rise fire
SHANGHAI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- An investigation team under the State Council, or China's Cabinet, for Monday's fatal fire in downtown Shanghai residential building was set up early Tuesday morning, as announced by China's police chief.
China's  said Tuesday that at least 53 people were killed in Shanghai during a deadly fire. The blaze, which occurred on Monday at 2:15 p.m.  (0615 ), consumed a 28-story high-rise apartment building in the city's .

The building was being renovated at the time of the fire, and was home to over 150 families. At least 100 victims have been admitted to area hospitals, although some later died. Most survivors were not seriously injured, but needed treatment for . Firefighters were still looking for survivors and over 70 were still hospitalized on the morning after the fire.

The fire was the worst in recent Shanghai history and took over 100 fire engines more than four hours to contain. Strong winds blew heavy smoke into the air, hampering rescue efforts by helicopters. The smoke was seen by witnesses around 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) away from the high-rise. The fire was largely extinguished by 6:30 p.m. local time (1000 UTC), allowing fire and rescue officials to enter the building.

The apartment building, built in the late 1990s, was home to mainly retired teachers. Some residents climbed down the scaffolding to escape, while others called for help but were unable to flee the blaze. "I saw at least four or five people hanging onto the scaffolding which covers the building, screaming for help," said Li Qubo, who was working near the high-rise.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but local residents said fire safety regulations were not strict, and workers often tossed used cigarettes into the building's hallways. Qiu Jingshu, a 38-year-old worker who was outside the 18th floor when the fire struck, said he saw sparks from welding being done on an adjacent building fly over onto the high-rise. The sparks lit up foam on the scaffolding around the apartment, according to Qiu. "We had tried to put out the blaze, but the fire was so big and spread so quickly that we could barely escape ourselves," he said. Crews were said to have been installing insulation at the time of the fire, and witnesses saw construction materials on fire before the building was overtaken by flames.

Two nearby buildings were evacuated, and their residents were temporarily sent to local hotels, and a school. , China's , said that an investigation would determine who was responsible for the fire, so they could be punished accordingly. Meng said that a team had been formed under  to look into the disaster.

A similar incident occurred in Beijing early last year. In February 2009, the illegal use of fireworks  that gutted a 34-story building under construction at the time.

Shanghai has a population of about 20 million, housed mainly in high-rise apartments. Many buildings in the city are under construction or being renovated.