fireharbin.epa_.jpg (Photo : EPA)
After Friday's extensive warehouse fire in the northeast Harbin area, in which five firefighters were killed, global celebrity Jackie Chan donated half a million yuan ($80,523) to the families of the deceased emergency workers. Local officials confirmed the donation on Wednesday.
A Chinese government official also confirmed on Wednesday that compensatory amounts to the value of approximately 2 million yuan ($321,921) will be distributed to each of the families of the deceased. The sum was upgraded after the Chinese public expressed disdain following the initial offer of 20,000 yuan ($3,219) from the public security ministry.
While the much lower amount that was first announced was deemed an "honorable sum," New Culture View reported that Wednesday's revision is in accordance with official regulations, and is bolstered by monetary support from insurance policies.
The ages of the the five killed firemen ranged from 18 to 22 years, while 14 of their injured colleagues also emerged from the intense blaze. The 14 casualties were taken to hospital, with three admitted in a critical condition.
While the firemen were struggling to contain the fire, they were buried by debris when part of the building collapsed. The third floor of the market warehouse, which is located in the Beifangnanxun ceramics market, reportedly gave way at around 10 p.m., leading to the casualties on the second floor.
On Saturday, the final two of the five bodies were retrieved, and on the following day, the fire was still being contained. The investigation into the cause of the fatal fire continues.
Chan's donation follows a difficult 2014, in which his son, Jaycee Chan, was charged for "the crime of sheltering others to take drugs" after marijuana appeared in December drug tests. Jaycee Chan will appear in the Eastern District Court in Beijing on Friday.
