The relative of a victim who perished in the Shanghai high-rise inferno mourns her loss on Sunday at the site of the charred building. [Photo/Chinadaily]

 

City unites in grief amid emotional scenes one week after blaze tragedy

SHANGHAI - Thousands of people flocked to the charred frame of a 28-story Shanghai apartment building on Sunday to mourn the 58 people who died in the Nov 15 fire, which has been blamed on lax oversight and illegal practices.

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Tearful family members of the victims began arriving at first light, laying flowers and wreaths before portraits of their deceased loved ones.

They were joined by local residents and some expatriates, dressed in black, who were clutching white or yellow chrysanthemums and standing quietly in line to place the flowers in front of the high-rise building.

Groups of people handed out free chrysanthemums to passers-by from Changping Road subway station, the nearest to the scene of the fire.

Flowers were stacked in front of the building along with personal items including stuffed animals, photos of the victims and offerings of cigarettes. Paper notices with the words "Don't cry, Shanghai" were handed out.

A self-formed symphony orchestra played funeral songs.

Traffic near the building on Jiaozhou and Yuyao roads was blocked and barriers were set up to facilitate the crowds. Police and volunteers stayed at the site to ensure safety.

Sunday was the seventh day since the disaster, a day the Chinese believe the dead revisit their families before leaving for good.

The fire swept through the 28-story building last Monday after sparks from welding equipment set nylon construction netting and bamboo scaffolding alight. Another 71 were injured, and some people are still unaccounted for.

The Shanghai government said most of the victims died inside their own homes, killed by smoke, toxic fumes and the intense heat.

Many people who came to mourn the dead on Sunday had organized online to converge near the building.

"We bought the flowers and came here voluntarily. We are here to express our blessings," said a resident who was handing out free chrysanthemums.

"The chrysanthemums are out of stock in the nearby flower markets. But we will stay here until we have given out the last one," said the man, who requested anonymity.

"Although I saw pictures of the fire-gutted building online, it's a totally different experience to come here and see it with my own eyes. I feel extremely sad and helpless," said a young lady, surnamed Qiao, who worked at a nearby company.

Shanghai's Party chief Yu Zhengsheng, mayor Han Zheng and other senior officials visited the scene on Sunday morning, bowed three times in a silent tribute and placed flowers, China News Service reported.