Fifteen individuals lost their lives, and over 40 others sustained injuries in a devastating fire that swept through an apartment complex in eastern China, as reported by local authorities.
Videos circulating on social media depicted horrifying scenes of flames and thick black smoke engulfing numerous floors of a tall building in Nanjing city.
“It appears that the fire originated on the first floor of the building, where electric bicycles were stored,” authorities mentioned, though the precise cause remains uncertain pending investigation.
The incident occurred in the Yuhuatai district of Nanjing, a bustling city with a population exceeding eight million, situated approximately 162 miles (260 kilometers) northwest of Shanghai.
Emergency responders received the alarm at 04:40 local time (20:40 GMT) on Friday, with a rapid deployment of twenty-five fire engines and 130 firefighters dispatched to combat the inferno.
The fire was under control by 06:00 (22:00 GMT), and search and rescue efforts concluded around 14:00.
Among the 44 individuals admitted to hospitals for treatment, one person is in critical condition, while another sustained serious injuries, officials disclosed.
Expressing condolences and apologies to the victims’ families during a press briefing, Nanjing Mayor Chen Zhichang addressed the tragedy with solemnity.
Aerial images of the skyscraper post-fire revealed several units with charred exteriors, highlighting the severity of the incident.
Fires and other fatal accidents frequently arise in China due to inadequate enforcement of safety protocols.
In response to a recent surge in deadly fires nationwide, President Xi Jinping called for “deep reflection” and intensified efforts to “curb the frequent occurrence of safety accidents.”
The Nanjing fire tragedy follows closely after the loss of 13 young lives in a school dormitory fire in Henan province, and another fatal fire in a shop basement in the city of Xinyu, which claimed the lives of at least 39 individuals, just days apart.
