Beijing - A top Chinese official says safety standards and preparation at a poultry plant were “extremely chaotic” before a deadly fire that killed 120 workers.
State Administration of Work Safety head Yang Dongliang confirmed earlier reports that safety exits had been blocked at the Jilin Baoyuanfeng Poultry Co. plant.
An administration statement Friday quoted Yang as saying that plant management neglected to hold required safety drills or educate workers, while local government departments failed to carry out proper inspections.
The plant's top management has been detained.
Monday's disaster was China's deadliest industrial accident in five years and highlighted continuing gross neglect of worker safety.
It came 20 years after a deadly toy factory fire where workers were also trapped by locked exits. - Sapa-AP