Fire in Chinese Mall Kills 16, Dozens Rescued

Fire in Chinese Mall Kills 16, Dozens Rescued/Reuters

VoM News Desk | July 18, 2024 | 11:40 PM IST | Breaking News, China, World | Follow on Google News

Fire in Chinese Mall Kills 16, Dozens Rescued

Fire in Chinese Mall Kills 16, Dozens Rescued

Key Highlights:

1. Fire in Zigong, Sichuan Province, claims 16 lives.
2. Preliminary investigation suggests construction work as the cause.
3. Firefighters rescue 75 people, use drones and water sprays to extinguish flames.

At least 16 people have died after a fire broke out in a shopping mall in southwestern China, Al Jazeera reported, citing state media. The blaze began in the 14-storey commercial building in the city of Zigong, Sichuan Province, on Wednesday night. Firefighters were seen working at the site until early Thursday morning, according to Xinhua News Agency. Despite the tragedy, rescue teams successfully pulled 75 people to safety.

The fire originated at the bottom of the building, which houses a department store, offices, restaurants, and a movie theatre, state media CCTV reported. Preliminary investigations suggest that construction operations triggered the fire, but a detailed inquiry is underway to determine the specific cause. Videos circulating on social media showed thick black smoke pouring out of the building’s lower levels and engulfing the entire structure.

Following the incident, the emergency department urged the public “not to believe or amplify rumours” about the fire. Firefighters used several drones and water sprays to extinguish the flames, state media reported.

Fire hazards have been a persistent problem in China, with 947 fire-related deaths reported from January to May 2024, a 19 percent increase from the same period the previous year, according to Li Wanfeng, spokesman for the National Fire and Rescue Administration. Fires in public places such as hotels and restaurants have risen to 40 percent, with malfunctioning electrical or gas lines and carelessness being common causes. Earlier this year, a fire in January killed 39 people in a commercial building due to unauthorized welding in the basement. In February, 15 people died in a residential building fire in Nanjing after a blaze broke out in an attached car park containing electric bikes.

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