22 officials penalized for dereliction of duty in fire disaster in S. China

Twenty-two civil servants in South China's Guangdong Province have been penalized for failing to perform their duties relating to a fatal hotel fire, which claimed 31 lives in June of last year.

The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China on Wednesday reported the result of the investigation into the officials responsible for the tragedy, saying eight of the 22 officials have been transferred to the judiciary department for criminal investigation.

The fire occurred at Huanan Hotel in Shantou City, Guangdong Province on June 10, 2005, leaving 31 killed and 21 injured.

According to the report made by an investigation team sent by China's State Council, the deadly hotel fire was caused by sparks from the electric wires on the ceiling in a room on the second floor, which lit the combustible goods nearby.

Among the local high-ranking officials punished were deputy Party chief of Chaonan District Huang Ling, deputy head of the Chaonan District Government Huang Yusheng as well as some police and fire brigade officials in Shantou City.

Source: Xinhua