International

Tragic blaze in Xinyu claims 39 lives, leaves 9 injured: Jiangxi province

A devastating fire erupted at a retail establishment in Xinyu, located within Jiangxi province, resulting in the tragic loss of 39 lives and injuring nine others, as confirmed by both state media and local authorities. Reuters, as cited by News.ro, relayed the grim news, further noting that rescue operations are ongoing as some individuals remain trapped within the building.

According to reports from China Daily, the fire originated in the afternoon within the basement premises of the store situated along Tiangongnan Boulevard within the Yushui district. Local emergency response teams swiftly mobilised to combat the blaze, though the thick, billowing smoke visible on social media platforms like Weibo underscored the severity of the situation.

Further insights provided by CCTV News revealed that the affected building housed an internet cafe on its lower level, while an educational institution occupied the floors above.

In response to the tragedy, President Xi Jinping has emphasised the imperative of redoubled efforts to prevent such accidents and safeguard the lives of citizens, as conveyed by Xinhua News Agency.

This lamentable incident adds to a series of fire-related disasters in China over the past year, with a recent example being the fatal fire that claimed the lives of 13 students in a boarding school located in Henan province. Authorities have taken swift action, detaining seven staff members implicated in the oversight of safety protocols following the incident.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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