(Photo: Xinhua)

BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's cultural heritage sites and museums reported 21 fire accidents in 2019, the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) said Thursday at a press conference.

Electrical failures and malfunctions were still the leading cause of fires at cultural heritage sites and museums, said the NCHA.

The NCHA had dispatched four inspection teams to cultural heritage sites and museums in eight provinces ahead of the Spring Festival and exposed about 260 security risks, such as hidden fire hazards.

The administration will push for rectifying the problems and stepping up supervision over security control work, said Chen Peijun, an official with the NCHA.