The owners of a shoe-factory in south China's Fujian Province has been arrested after a fire on Sunday killed 37 workers, Xinhua News Agency reported today.

The owners, Chen Zongfei and wife Huang Shubin, have been taken into custody by prosecutors in the city of Putian in Fujian, Xinhua said.

Qiu Jincai, vice governor of Putian's Xiuyu District, has also suspended from his post. Qiu was in charge of local work safety.

The blaze, which broke out at 9:50 PM on Sunday at the six-story Feida factory, also injured 19 workers, Xinhua said.

Firemen succeeded in putting the blaze out in about an hour.

Zhu Qing, director of the information office of the Fujian provincial government, said the workshop was operating with a license, although earlier reports quoting Xiuyu District government said it was unlicensed.

The local government ordered Chen and Huang in May and September to improve the working conditions to meet safety standards, but they failed to do so, Zhu added.

The first floor of the factory was used as a storeroom, the second and third floors as workshops, and the top three floors as a dining hall and dormitory, he said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Xinhua said.

(Shanghai Daily October 25, 2007)