Families of dead victims of Bund stampede will receive compensation. (Photo : REUTERS)
Families of the 36 victims during the New Year's Eve stampede in Shanghai will be compensated with 800,000 yuan each, as announced by the local authorities.
Those who got injured, 49 individuals, will receive their respective compensations in consideration of their injuries.
On Jan. 21, Wendesday, it was announced that the 11 local officials accountable for the safety of the people who assembled on the Bund, Shanghai's historic riverfront walk, were dealt with punishments.
Four officials were removed from their positions, namely: the Communist Party Chief of Huangpu District Zhou Wei, Deputy Peng Song, Deputy District governor Zhou Zheng, and Deputy Police Chief Chen Qi.
CNN International reported that local officials themselves admitted that the tragic incident would have been totally preventable. According to the investigation team, the size of the crowd on that fateful day was underestimated. Moreover, the officials of the district were not prepared. When the tragedy happened, officials also mishandled the situation.
In a national televised press conference, Vice Mayor Zhou Bo also expressed the local government's regret and guilt.
"We feel very sad and extremely guilty," he said. "We offer our deepest condolences to the victims, and express our deepest apologies to their families as well as the injured and their families," he added.
The incident highlighted the country's still inefficient public safety measures. After the incident, Chinese President Xi himself warned the officials about public safety measures.
Following this warning, authorities of the nation deemed it appropriate to cancel large events such as pop concerts, shopping festivals and the like.
