Shanghai police have detained eight people over Monday's blaze at a high-rise apartment building that left 53 people dead and more than 70 injured. An initial investigation has blamed the disaster on unlicensed welders.

The blaze erupted on the northern side of the 10th floor of the 28-story building.

The building was undergoing an energy-saving renovation project. It was covered by scaffolding made of flammable nylon netting and bamboo,strong winds helped the fire spread.

As the rescue effort continues inside the burnt building, relief work is also underway. At a neighboring school entrance, survivors registered and took food offered by the local authorities. Around 70 people can sit on chairs in the 1st-floor lounge, and about 40 mattresses have been put on the second-floor. Survivors will later be transferred to hotels around Shanghai Number One Middle School.

At a temporary shelter, 100 workers have been allocated to help victims' relatives to register information on their missing family members. The name list of the injured is also being constantly updated.

Gong Deqing, Secretary of Jing’an District CPC Committee, said,

We feel the same sorrow that you're suffering. Now we are making efforts to help you to find the names of your loved ones on the updated list. We will make joint efforts with hospitals and inform you of the latest as soon as possible.

Experts say China's fire-fighting capabilities are not sufficient to fight fires more than 53 meters above ground level. Local police and fire-fighting authorities have promised to release more information about the cause of the accident as soon as possible.

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