Shanghai New Year stampede: four officials sacked

Four top district officials have been sacked for insufficient preparation and response in the New Year’s Eve stampede that killed 36 people in Shanghai.

Investigation results released by the Shanghai government on Wednesday 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.

Wang Yu, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Supervision, told a news conference that the Huangpu District party secretary, district government chief and police chief and deputy police chief were to be sacked. They were among 11 officials punished.

The city’s investigation report blames the officials for insufficient precautions, poor site management and congestion at the site of the stampede in the city’s historic riverfront Bund area.