Shanghai - China has ordered a nationwide overhaul of fire-control measures a day after a blaze at a Shanghai high-rise claimed 53 lives.

Monday's inferno in the 28-story residential building had residents attempting desperate jumps to safety or seeking refuge on rickety construction scaffolding surrounding the structure, which was under renovation.

The State Council issued a circular late on Tuesday calling for a crackdown on lax observation and enforcement of fire-safety measures to "resolutely prevent and curb major fires".