Top Shanghai official expresses grief, guilt over New Year's stampede   

韩正：外滩踩踏事件造成重大伤亡 深感痛心内疚

上海市委、市政府今天上午召开上海全市加强安全工作会议，通报外滩拥挤踩踏事件善后处置工作进展，进一步部署全市安全工作。中共中央政治局委员、上海市委书记韩正说，外滩发生拥挤踩踏事件，造成重大伤亡，教训十分惨痛，我们深感痛心、深感内疚，痛定思痛，要深刻吸取教训，尽心尽力做好善后各方面工作。市联合调查组正在紧张有序开展全面调查，将根据调查结果，依法依规严肃问责。[查看全文]

Shanghai's top official on Wednesday said he felt deep grief and guilt over the New Year's Eve stampede that left 36 people dead and 49 injured.

Addressing a government conference on strengthening safety management, Han Zheng, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shanghai Municipal Committee, lamented the huge loss of lives and ordered officials to learn a lesson from the tragedy.

Han said an investigation is under way and officials will be held responsible.

The officials should acknowledge the flaws in their work and draw a lesson to improve their work, Han said. He added that they should try their best to ensure the safety of life and property of each city resident.

He said authorities will launch a thorough overhaul of the current safety management system and take more stringent measures to guarantee city-wide safety.

Shanghai Mayor Yang Xiong said the joint investigation should be objective, fair and authoritative and related information should be released in a timely and transparent manner to address the public's concerns.

Yang ordered improved safety management for large crowds in key places, such as stations, airports, scenic spots and shopping malls, and demanded precautions to brace for emergencies.

The deadly stampede happened when people assembled on Shanghai's historic riverfront walk, the Bund, to usher in the new year last Wednesday night.

According to the Shanghai Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission, 17 injured people were still receiving medical treatment as of 11 a.m. on Wednesday.

Among them, four were seriously injured and one was in critical condition, the commission said.

To mark the seventh day after the tragedy, citizens and victims' families visited the site of the stampede on Tuesday.