Beijing hospital fire: Death toll rises to 29

The death toll from a fire at a Beijing hospital rose to 29, including 26 patients, officials said on Wednesday, and a dozen people were detained, including the head of the hospital and his deputy.
A fire broke out at the private Changfeng Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of dozens of people. Some who were trapped had to escape through windows using bedsheets tied together.
Li Zongrong, deputy prefect of Fengtai district, said a nurse, a medical assistant and a family member also died in the incident.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but officials say they believe it originated from welding sparks from work being carried out in the hospital’s inpatient wing. The head of the construction crew is also among the 12 detained.
A total of 39 people are undergoing treatment, of whom three are in critical condition, officials said. Rescuers and medical staff were mobilized from across the city, with squads evacuating some of the 142 people who had been evacuated from the air-conditioning units on the exterior of the building.