TWENTY-TWO civil servants in Shantou City have been penalized after being held responsible for dereliction of duty over a hotel fire, which claimed 31 lives in June last year.

The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China on Wednesday reported the result of the investigation into the officials responsible for the tragedy, saying eight of the 22 officials have been transferred to the judiciary department and may face criminal charges.

One of them is Huang Ling, deputy CPC party secretary of Chaonan District. According to a circular issued body the provincial authorities, Huang had not done enough to supervise the district's fire department and had ignored the possibility of a fire at the Hua'nan Hotel.

Huang Yusheng, deputy director of Chaonan District, received administrative punishment as well as a warning from the Party. His responsibilities include supervising the district's fire department. Some police and fire brigade officials also received similar punishment.

The fire occurred at the Hua'nan Hotel on June 10 last year, killing 31 and injuring 21. According to the report made by a team of investigators sent by China's State Council, the deadly hotel fire was caused by sparks from the electric wires in the ceiling in a room on the second floor.

Editor: Yan