The Shanghai Public Security Bureau has arrested a 32-year-old woman from Anhui Province for allegedly setting fire to a dormitory used by migrant workers and their families, killing 10 people and injuring 20 others.

Police say the suspect, who they would only identify by the surname Pan, has confessed to setting the blaze to her temporary residence on Gaoxiong Road, Huangpu District, "owning to disputes over her love affairs."

Police wouldn't reveal any other information about Pan's motives yesterday.

Early on the morning of April 29, the fire swept through the three-story building, an abandoned workshop that was used to house 10 migrant families.

City police received an alert at 3:49am and firefighters battled the blaze for nearly an hour.

Witnesses said huge flames leapt through the roof of the wood and brick structure and some victims were injured jumping from their third-floor bedrooms to escape the blaze.

The fire was brought under control around 4:40am before it could spread to nearby residential buildings. Firefighters said they removed a dozen gas canisters from the burning building.

The shocking tragedy garnered the attention of high ranking officials who demanded firefighters determine the cause of the blaze quickly and police bring anyone responsible for the deadly fire to justice.

(Shanghai Daily May 14, 2005)