7 injured in China stampede still critical: official

The condition of seven of the 49 people injured in the deadly New Year's Eve stampede at Shanghai's iconic waterfront area remained serious, an official said today.
Of those in hospital, the condition of the seven injured persons is serious, Wu Jinglei, spokesman for the Shanghai Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission said.
Twenty five are still under medical treatment, while 24 others are discharged, Wu added.
Those hospitalised included seven men and 18 women. A total of 36 people, including a Taiwanese and Malaysian nationals, were killed in the Wednesday's late night massive trampling at the Bund.
The commission had coordinated a team of medical experts to treat the injured and had offered counselling to them and their families, WU was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency.

An investigation by President Xi Jinping to determine responsibility for the tragedy has started.

Tens of thousands of people assembled in Shanghai's historic riverfront walk to take part in the the New Year countdown, resulting in the deadly stampede.
The Bund, famous for its colonial architecture, is the former financial district of China's commercial hub and now a popular tourist destination and Shanghai residents have traditionally flocked there to celebrate new year.
Besides Hong Kong, that is run as a separate territory, Shanghai is China's most international and cosmopolitan city, home to global companies and aims at becoming a world financial centre by 2020.

The stampede's cause has not been identified.