Fifteen of the 77 people who were injured in a fire at a poultry processing plant in Jilin Province on Monday have been discharged from hospitals, the national health authority said yesterday.

Fifteen of the remaining 62 in hospitals are still in a serious condition, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said.

The commission has sent six experts to direct medical treatment for the injured.

In addition, a 12-member emergency psychological intervention group arrived in Jilin on Thursday to provide psychological counseling for 56 people, including the injured and their relatives, the commission said.

The blaze, which occurred at Jilin Baoyuanfeng Poultry Company in the city of Dehui, also killed 120 people.

Meanwhile, DNA samples have been collected from the bodies of all who perished in the fire as they are unidentifiable by sight. Forensic examiners are taking DNA samples from the victims' relatives to conduct DNA matching. So far, they have been able to identify 104 victims through DNA matching.

Yang Dongliang, director of the State Administration of Work Safety, said Jilin Baoyuanfeng's assets had been frozen and its business license permanently revoked.

Yang added the administration's investigation found negligence by company management caused safety loopholes leading to the fire.

The company's chairman, Jia Yushan, and general manager, Zhang Yushen, have been detained by police.

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