China has punished 11 public officials over the New Year's Eve stampede in Shanghai that killed 36 people at an outdoor waterfront area.

State media announced Wednesday that four officials - the Huangpu District party chief, his deputy, the district security chief, and the deputy police chief - were fired Wednesday.

Seven other officials in tourism, public security, and urban management were disciplined.

Investigation¹ results released Wednesday blame the officials for insufficient² precautions and for poor site management at the waterfront area, known as "the Bund," which is traditionally crowded on New Year's Eve.

Families of the victims have criticized the local government and emergency officials for being too slow to respond to the crisis. It took place shortly before midnight, as people gathered at the riverfront site in central Shanghai to usher³ in the new year.

Witnesses say the stampede broke out when people rushed to pick up fake money that had been thrown from a third-story window.

China has seen deadly stampedes before. Thirty-seven people died in 2004 when they were trampled⁴ on a bridge during the Lunar New Year holiday.

中国惩处与上海新年前夕踩踏事件有关的11名政府官员。发生在黄浦江畔的这一事件造成36人死亡。

中国国家媒体星期三说，黄埔区党委书记和副书记、黄浦区公安局长和副局长星期三被免职。

旅游、公安和城市管理机关的七名官员也受到惩处。

星期三发表的调查报告指责官员们疏忽大意，对发生踩踏事件的黄浦江畔地区（或称“外滩”）管理不善。历年来，外滩在新年前夕总是很拥挤。

遇难者家属批评当地政府和紧急事务机构官员对危机的反应过于迟缓。这一事件发生在午夜前不久，人们聚集在上海市中心的黄浦江畔地区迎接新年。

中国以往也曾发生过踩踏事件。2004年，在一座桥上发生的踩踏事件造成37人死亡。