Carrefour apologises over deaths

French retailer Carrefour has apologised and has been fined €46,000 after 3 people died and 31 injured in a stampede at one of their shops in China. The incident occurred in southwestern China’s Chongqing City.

The reason for the drama was a sale of cooking oil, for which prices have been soared more than 30% in the last year. The promotion was part of Carrefour's 10-year anniversary in Chongqing. As a result of the drama, the Chinese government has banned time limited sales promotion nationwide.

Besides the fine the security official was taken in police custody and face probably negligence charges. Two other employees were fired.  According to the local press, Carrefour has written a letter of apology in which it takes full responsibility for the accident and states that it would learn from the incident.

Carrefour entered China in 1995 and has since opened over 100 stores.