The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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By: AFP
A fire in the central Chinese province of Jiangxi resulted in the death of at least 39 individuals, with nine others receiving treatment for injuries, according to state media reports on Wednesday.
The incident occurred at a store in Xinyu, Jiangxi, with the fire breaking out on the below-ground level at around 3:24 pm on January 24. The state broadcaster CCTV stated that as of 8:00 pm local time, the accident had claimed 39 lives, injured nine people, and left others trapped.
The report did not specify the exact cause of the fire or the number of individuals still at risk. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for decisive measures to contain such deadly accidents in the country, emphasizing the need to ensure the safety of people’s lives, property, and overall social stability.
CCTV released video footage of the scene, showing fire trucks and emergency response vehicles deployed near a row of businesses. An “emergency command” in the city, established by local officials, stated that search and rescue efforts were ongoing, and an investigation into the accident’s cause was underway.
Social media posts from government-run outlets depicted massive clouds of smoke rising into the sky as onlookers watched from a distance. Emergency response vehicles were present, with security personnel advising people to stay away.
China has experienced frequent fires and other deadly accidents, often attributed to lax safety standards and insufficient enforcement of regulations. This incident occurred just five days after a school fire in Henan province claimed 13 lives and follows previous incidents, such as a deadly blaze at a coal company office in Shanxi province and an explosion at a barbecue restaurant in northwestern China.
In April, a hospital fire in Beijing resulted in 29 fatalities, forcing survivors to jump from windows to escape.
