(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-21 16:00

Shijiazhuang - Investigators believe the karaoke bar fire that killed 11 people in Chengde county, north China's Hebei Province, last week was caused by arson.

A joint investigation team from the Ministry of Public Security, as well as public security departments in Hebei and several neighboring provinces, have reconstructed the scene of the fire to pinpoint the cause, the county government said in a press release on Wednesday.

It said investigators have ruled out cigarette butts, candles or improper use of electric appliances as causes of the blaze.

One county official, who declined to be named, said one employee left work abruptly the night before the fire and never returned.

The fire is believed to have started behind a bar counter in the southeastern corner of the Gedu Karaoke Hall at 4:47 am last Wednesday.

The 11 people killed included the karaoke bar manager and 10 waitresses.

The Chengde county government said their families had been compensated an average 200,000 yuan (US$26,666) each.

The licensee, Tian Yumin, a native of Chengde county, turned himself over to the police after the fire.

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