The Shanghai Fire Control Bureau made a surprise inspection of more than 400 entertainment venues on Monday night.

The citywide inspection was organized after a fire in a night club in Shenzhen on Saturday killed 43 people and injured 88.

More than 100 inspection groups checked entertainment venues on Huaihai Road, Changshou Road and Nanjing Road E. as well as in the Wujiaochang area.

Inspectors checked fire fighting equipment, emergency exits and whether staff members knew how to operate emergency equipment, according to Zhou Meiliang, media coordinator of the Fire Control Bureau. The results of the inspection have yet to be released.

Officials in the fire bureau said yesterday that they will conduct investigations at all public entertainment venues before the week-long National Day holiday.

"We invite citizens to report any unlicensed public places through the fire control hotline: 96119," Zhou said.

The investigations will inspect entertainment venues, shopping malls, restaurants and tourist spots, and focus on places where fire risks have been found in the past, authorities said.

(Shanghai Daily September 24, 2008)