Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

Fire at Beijing Internet Cafe Kills 24

Aired June 16, 2002 - 07:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, more on our top story, the deadly fire in China. The mayor of Beijing has ordered the city's 2,400 Internet cafes closed while the government draws up new regulations. The order came after one of the deadliest fires in Beijing's history. Our CNN Beijing bureau chief joins us now by phone with the latest on the cyber cafe fire.

JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the investigation is still going on, but it was quite apparent that the 24 victims died while trapped in this cafe, open through the night. Apparently, the cafe only had one door and all the windows had bars. So a lot of the victims were trapped inside while the fire was raging.

As you noted, in response to this disaster, the Beijing mayor has ordered a complete revamp of -- an investigation of all Internet cafes; 2,400 such cafes in Beijing alone. But the problem is, only about 200 of them have the necessary permits. This cafe involved apparently was open only a month ago, and had no necessary permits from the police, the Health Department and the Fire Department.

PHILLIPS: Jaime Florcruz, live from Beijing, thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com