Cause of nursing home fire confirmed as arson  

黑龍江敬老院11死火災：一老人因丟200元錢縱火

(ECNS) -- The death toll in a nursing home blaze in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province has climbed to 11, and the cause of the fire was confirmed to be arson, according to a press conference held in Hailun city, Heilongjiang province, on Friday.

The blaze occurred about 1:15 am in the inpatient building of Lianhe Senior Nursing Home in Hailun, according to the municipal government's publicity department.

The arson suspect was a nursing home resident named Wang Gui, the local fire department in Hailun said.

Wang was said to have lost 200 yuan ($32.60) on Thursday, and he suspected his fellow residents of stealing his money. On Thursday night, Wang lost control and committed arson. Wang was also confirmed dead in the blaze, according to local police.

There were 32 elderly people in the inpatient building, which covers an area of 300 square meters, when the fire broke out, according to the fire department.

A total of 283 elderly people were living at the nursing home, which was built in October 2005.

With an area of 7,000 square meters, the home caters to people in the city who are from rural areas and have no source of income.