13 Dead In China School Dormitory Fire
Thirteen individuals lost their lives in a tragic fire that engulfed a school dormitory in Yanshanpu village, located in central China’s Henan province. The incident was reported to the local fire department at 11 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Friday night, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
The news agency confirmed the death toll of thirteen people, with one individual sustaining injuries. Rescuers promptly arrived at the scene, successfully extinguishing the flames by 11:38 p.m., as reported by Xinhua. The injured survivor is currently receiving treatment at the hospital and is in stable condition.
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Authorities at the local level are actively investigating the cause of the fire, and Xinhua mentioned that at least one person associated with the school has been detained.
Yanshanpu village, situated on the outskirts of Nanyang, a city with nearly 10 million residents, is grappling with the aftermath of this tragic incident.
Limited information is publicly available about the boarding school, but social media videos have surfaced, depicting young children, including kindergarteners, adorned in smocks featuring the school’s logo, as well as older students engaged in calligraphy.
The news agency did not specify the number of children among the deceased.
Expressing their dismay online, Chinese social media users are demanding accountability for safety lapses that may have contributed to the incident.
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A Weibo user commented, “It’s too scary, 13 children from 13 families, all gone in an instant… if there is no severe punishment, their souls will not rest in peace.”
China has witnessed numerous deadly accidents, including fires, attributed to lax safety standards and insufficient enforcement. In November, a fire at a coal company office in Shanxi province claimed 26 lives, and in July, 11 people died when a school gym roof collapsed in the country’s northeast. These incidents have fueled calls for nationwide campaigns to enhance workplace safety.
President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for thorough investigations, improved emergency plans, and prevention measures following the November coal company fire, underlining the importance of addressing hidden risks in key industries.
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13 Dead In China School Dormitory Fire
