Relatives search hospitals for loved ones in aftermath of blaze, report He Na and Han Junhong in Dehui, Jilin, and Tang Yue in Beijing.

On Tuesday morning, Wang Shunwen was standing outside the gates of Jilin Baoyuanfeng Poultry Co, waiting for news of his daughter.

Twenty-seven hours earlier, a fire had engulfed a slaughterhouse at the plant in Dehui, Jilin province. The death toll has reached 119 and more than 70 people have been reported injured.

His daughter, Wang Yuping, 40, was working in the slaughterhouse when the fire broke out and nothing has been heard of her since.

She had worked at the plant for two years, often putting in 12-hour days without complaint, despite not being paid for overtime, according to her father.

"My daughter often said that as long as her daughters could have a better life in the future, it didn't matter how hard she worked, it would be worth it," said Wang Shunwen. His granddaughters are aged 10 and 16.

"Her husband has visited all the hospitals that received the injured, but his search has been in vain," said Wang Shunwen, his eyes red and unfocused.

About 300 workers were inside the slaughterhouse when the blaze began. Many were unable to escape because some of the exits were locked during working hours, which is a common practice at plants such as this, according to survivors.

"Maybe no news is good news? At least that's how I try to comfort the two girls. But I don't buy it. I know I have lost my daughter forever," said Wang Shunwen tearfully.

By early Tuesday morning, 500 firefighters had conducted six thorough searches of the site, but failed to find any survivors.

Relatives of missing workers were desperate to learn the latest news about their loved ones. Around 50 of them gathered outside the plant at 6 am on Tuesday after failing to find their relatives at the hospital. Three hours later, their number had risen to more than 200, so many that they blocked the road for about an hour.

When China Daily reporters were conducting interviews early in the morning at the nearby Huikang and Fuyang hospitals, where the wounded were taken, they saw many relatives desperately searching from ward to ward.

Delayed response

The blaze was caused by a leak of liquid ammonia, which is used in the cooling system in meat-processing plants, according to Jilin province fire department on Monday.

However, Liu Changchun, mayor of Dehui, told China Youth Daily that the cause is still under investigation.

President Xi Jinping, on an official visit to the Americas and the Carribean, and Premier Li Keqiang urged intensive rescue efforts to minimize the number of casualties. They also called for a thorough investigation into the deadliest fire on the Chinese mainland since 2000, when 309 people died in a blaze at a nightclub in Henan province.

No matter what caused Monday's accident, the locked doors served to exacerbate the number of casualties, said Liu Yunbo, a 44-year-old survivor.

"There are about 300 workers in our department. Fearful that workers would stray from their posts, the managers normally only left one or two doors open and locked the rest. Most poultry processing factories do the same thing. We didn't realize the practice could be life-threatening," said Liu.

"I've been working in the plant for more than three years and know the department well. It has a giant gate, but only a small door that allows just two people to come out at the same time."

Just as Liu stepped out of the door, he was bowled over by terrified workers trying to get past. He sustained abdominal injuries as the crowd surged around him.

"I thought death was near. I held my breath and crawled for several meters before I fainted. When I came round several minutes later and saw lights I realized I was still alive," said Liu, speaking from his bed at Dehui Huikang Hospital.

The delayed response to the fire also contributed to the loss of life, a survivor called Shi told the Shanghai Evening Post.

"We heard there was a fire, but no one told us to evacuate. About 20 minutes later, the power was turned off. Everyone started trying to escape and some fell down. Twenty minutes later there was an explosion - the chances that those still inside could have survived are very slim," Shi told the newspaper.

According to Shi, five doors were opened when the fire broke out, but two remained locked.

'Like being in jail'

Sometimes, quitting a job can save your life.

Wang Zhichun, 19, worked at the plant for two years. He earned about 2,000 yuan ($326) a month for a six-day week.

However, the frequent need to work overtime and the strict management made him feel as though he had been imprisoned. He resigned two weeks ago.

He feels lucky, although his days in the plant haunt him like a nightmare.

"The management is very strict and it feels like being in jail. No one is allowed to leave their post without permission, so you have to report before using the bathroom so a substitute can replace you. And you have to be back at your work station within two minutes," said Wang.

"They (the management) think it will be hard to manage so many workers with all the gates open, so only the small side exits were unlocked during working hours," he said.

Meanwhile, the managers didn't bother to provide safety training, so the workers had no idea of the correct procedures in the event of an emergency, added Liu Yunbo.

Wang Chong was not as fortunate as Wang Zhichun. The 17-year-old from nearby Dawangjia village is among those reported missing. She has worked at the poultry plant for just two and half months.

"We hoped to get some news about the place where the fire started, but the entire area is guarded by police. They said they don't know anything and won't let us in," said her sister Wang Yuli, 21.

"My younger sister is very diligent and pretty. I really can't accept the fact that she's dead. She was only 17 and should have a long life ahead of her," said Wang Yuli.

Their father died several years ago and the family lives by planting crops. The money they earn is far from enough to pay the medical fees for their mother, who has diabetes and heart disease.

Wang Chong quit school a few months ago to help support the family.

"She gave most of her salary to mom and only kept a small amount every month. Unlike most girls of her age, who often buy beautiful dresses, she always wore a neat white T-shirt," said Wang Yuli.

"We know the chances are very slim, but even if it's just her dead body, we still want to see her for the last time," she said.

Contact the writer at hena@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 06/05/2013 page7)