44 killed in fire accidents during Spring Festival

A total of 44 people have been killed in fire accidents during the week-long Spring Festival, China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said Tuesday.

From Wednesday last week to the midday of Tuesday, 15,742 fire accidents broke out around the country, killing 44 and injuring 17, said the ministry, adding that no fire accident that killed five and above happened.

An unidentified official from the fire department of the MPS said police nationwide strengthened inspections of fire risks in large shopping malls, religious sites, restaurants and the areas for fireworks.

More than 197,000 sites were checked and 209,000 hidden fire dangers were found, according to the ministry.

Since the holiday began on Wednesday last week, firefighters saved over 2,000 people and relocated nearly 14,000 in fire accidents, the MPS said.