Carrefour managers sued over deadly stampede

By Li Xinran  |   2008-7-11  |     ONLINE EDITION

TWO managers in a Carrefour outlet in southwest China have been sued for alleged negligence that caused a deadly stampede during a time-limited sales promotion.

Three were killed on November 10 when people flooded to buy discounted cooking oil at the outlet in the Shapingba District of Chongqing Municipality. Thirty-one others were also injured, according to earlier media reports.

Prosecutors in Shapingba District said Xiang Xuexin, manager of the outlet's damage proof department, and Duan Chengwei, the assistant manager, were to blame for the accident due to negligence.

A police investigation found Carrefour had created an emergency response plan for the sales promotion and set a rule to clear all obstacles at entrances and reinforce guardrails.

However, Duan set up tables at three entrances to limit the number of people entering the store, which caused the stampede.

Xiang found the entrances were blocked by tables in a routine check before opening, but didn't ask his colleagues to move them. Prosecutors said that Xiang should be responsible for the accident as he was in charge of security work.

Prosecutors said both Duan and Xiang violated safety rules that caused a deadly accident.

The three-day promotion marked the 10th anniversary of Carrefour's entry in Chongqing.

People began queuing at the entrance about 4am on November 9, waiting to buy a brand of cooking oil at a discounted price.

The shop offered a deduction of 11.5 yuan (US$1.55) from the original price of 51.4 yuan for a five-liter bottle of the edible oil.

About 8:40am when the store opened, throngs of people burst in and a deadly stampede ensued.

French retailing giant Carrefour has opened 103 supermarkets in China since it entered the mainland market in 1995. The latest outlet was opened on November 1 in Changchun, capital of northeast Jilin Province.

Carrefour now operates four outlets in Chongqing.