BEIJING: A fire in a restaurant in northeastern China led to the deaths of 22 individuals and injuries to three others on Tuesday, April 29, according to Beijing’s state television.
The incident occurred in Liaoyang City, which is situated approximately 580 kilometers northeast of Beijing.
“The fire started at 12:25 PM on April 29,” CCTV reported.
“By 2 PM, the tragic event had resulted in 22 fatalities and three injuries,” the broadcaster added.
President Xi Jinping remarked that the fire had caused “serious casualties” and emphasized the importance of the lessons learned from this event, which he deemed “profoundly serious,” according to CCTV.
He urged for “all efforts to be made to care for the injured, respectfully manage the aftermath for the deceased, support their families, quickly identify the cause of the fire, and hold those responsible accountable under the law,” the report stated.
Videos posted online and confirmed by AFP displayed raging flames consuming a two-story restaurant, with large plumes of black smoke rising into the air.
Additional verified footage posted on Douyin, China’s equivalent of TikTok, showed emergency responders transporting a victim on a stretcher to an ambulance, as firefighters worked tirelessly to control the blaze with hoses.
Fatal fires are fairly frequent in China due to inadequate building regulations and a generally lax attitude toward safety in workplaces.
This month alone, 20 people lost their lives in a fire at a nursing home in Hebei province, located in northern China.
In January, a fire at a vegetable market in Zhangjiakou city, northwest of Beijing, resulted in eight deaths and injured 15 others.
Additionally, just a month prior, nine people died in a fire at a construction site in Rongcheng city in eastern China.
