~December 1999~

Zhili Fire - Wounds are never healed

In the afternoon of 19 November 1993, a severe fire broke out in the Zhili Toy factory in Shenzhen, China. This fire caused the deaths of 87 workers and 47 serious injuries. Most of the injured workers suffered from severely burnt. Other suffered from bones broken and inhalation of toxic gas. There were different causes of the fire. However, it is clear that many workers were killed was because of the unsafe design and operation of the factory. There was only one set of stairs inside the factory. Most importantly, exits were locked and all windows were blocked in the reason of security. Workers were killed simply because they could not get out of the blocked exits. This factory produced toys for a famous Italian transnational company, hicco? The toys were very expensive. A single one was sold as much as a Chinese worker could earn a month.

Six years later, the surviving victims still relive the horrible experience and the wounds are getting worse and worse. Xiao Ying, a young female worker, is the most serious burnt victim. 75% of her body has been burnt. All skin on her neck, back or legs are damaged. Hence, there are many skin grafts on her body. She suffers from continuous pain because the skin grafts cannot sweat properly. Only two fingers remain on her left hand. Her left foot was amputated as it was completely destroyed. She needs a crutch and an artificial foot for walking. The artificial foot is in very poor quality and does not fit properly. The wounds of Xiao Ying leg have worsened over the years. An inflamed swelling, as big as a table tennis ball, grows permanently. The wounds are never recovered. Blood and puss are often emitted.

Xiao Ying understands that she needs intensive medical treatment. However, she is scarred once she meets a doctor or she is asked for injection. The big problem is that she does not have enough money for good medical treatment. Xiao Ying is young and strength. She strongly believes that Chicco should take responsibility to compensate the victims because workers helped Chicco gain huge profits.

Xiao Chun, a male victim of the Zhili fire is definitely a hero. Though he was able to leave the factory once the fire broke out, he stayed in the factory and tried to extinguish the fire until it was totally out of control. He helped other workers escape out of the factory. Eventually, he saved four women but he went into a coma due to inhalation of toxic gas. When he woke up, he was in hospital and his body was covered with bandages. His handsome face has been destroyed. The right part of his body was seriously burnt. He cannot write because the fingers of his right hand were amputated. He cannot look after himself. He even needs help to dress up. He has totally lost working ability. Including Xiao Chun, fourteen people are entirely dependent on his elder brother’