Beijing launches probe as hospital fire toll rises to 29

The death toll from the fire at a private Beijing hospital rose to 29 on Wednesday morning, as the authorities detained 12 people and planned a thorough citywide safety inspection to eliminate potential fire risks in medical and other institutions.

Among the 29 victims of the fire at the Beijing Changfeng Hospital, 26 were patients, one was a family member and two were medical workers, said Li Zongrong, deputy head of Fengtai district where the hospital is located, at a news briefing on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased patients were between the ages of 40 and 88.

The district has set up special teams to guide the hospital in contacting family members of the victims and other patients, offer psychological counseling and judicial help, and guarantee accommodations for them in Beijing, Li said.