According to state media reports on Thursday, July 18, at least 16 people have tragically lost their lives in a fire that broke out at a shopping mall in Zigong, a city in southwest China.
Firefighters and rescuers swiftly responded to the fire call around 6 pm on Wednesday, July 17, at the 14-storey commercial building. They managed to rescue 75 individuals, as reported by the official news agency Xinhua.
The cause of the fire and the exact number of people present during the incident remain unknown.
The building houses a department store, offices, restaurants, and a movie theater. Videos circulating on social media depicted thick black smoke billowing from lower-level windows and engulfing the entire 14-storey structure as it ascended into the sky.
Approximately 30 individuals were saved from the blaze thanks to the efforts of nearly 300 emergency personnel and numerous vehicles dispatched by the local fire department, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
Local media also noted the use of drones by firefighters to assist in combating the intense fire.
Li Wanfeng, spokesperson for the National Fire and Rescue Administration, highlighted ongoing fire safety challenges in China, citing 947 fatalities reported in the initial months of 2024 up to May 20, marking a 19% increase from the previous year.
Li emphasized that fire incidents in public places like hotels and restaurants had risen by 40%, with common causes attributed to electrical or gas line malfunctions and negligence.
