Deadly NE China fire an act of arson: police

A deadly fire that occurred in a nursing home in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province was an act of arson, local police confirmed Friday.

Suspect Wang Gui, 45, one of 283 people living at the Lianhe Senior Nursing Home in the city of Hailun, has been confirmed to have died in the fire, which killed a total of 11 people, said Wang Zhongde, deputy head of the city's public security bureau.

Wang Gui, who was admitted for cerebral thrombosis, is suspected of committing the arson due to a dispute with another resident, according to the police.

The blaze happened at 1:15 a.m. in the intensive care section of the nursing home where 32 people lived, a statement from the local public security department said.

The nursing home has been cordoned off.

The head and deputy head of the nursing home, as well as the director and deputy director of the city's civil affairs bureau, have been removed from their posts following the fire.