Shanghai New Year stampede: 4 top district officials sacked

Shanghai, China: Shanghai has sacked four top district officials for insufficient preparation and response to the New Year’s Eve stampede that killed 36 people, the city government announced Wednesday. Investigation results released by the Shanghai government also noted that some of the officials responsible were at an opulent banquet the night of the disaster, hampering the response and adding to public discontent. The investigation report blames 11 Huangpu District officials for insufficient precautions, poor site management and congestion at the scene of the stampede in the city’s historic riverfront Bund area. [caption id=“attachment_2027171” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Relatives of one of the victims of the deadly stampede grieve as they wait for answers in a government compound in Shanghai, China. AP[/caption] The district’s Communist Party secretary, government chief, police chief and deputy police chief have been sacked and seven other officials have been demoted or otherwise disciplined, Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Supervision Deputy Director Wang Yu told a news conference. The stampede took place about a half-hour before midnight on Dec. 31 on a set of concrete steps at a riverfront area where a light show normally is shown, although the light show had been canceled. Associated Press