Southwest China: Massive Fire At Shopping Mall, At Least 16 Dead, Firefighters Rescue 75

A tragic fire at a shopping mall in Zigong, southwestern China, killed 16 people on Wednesday, state media reported. Firefighters arrived at the blaze shortly after 6 p.m. at the 14-story building, rescuing 75 people, according to Xinhua.

Rescue work is still ongoing. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and the number of people in the building at the time is unclear. The building has a department store, offices, restaurants, and a movie theater.

Videos on social media showed thick black smoke coming from the lower levels, covering the entire building. Huge flames were visible as firefighters fought the fire with water sprays. Local news said that drones were also used in the firefighting efforts.

Fire dangers are a constant problem in China. Li Wanfeng, a spokesperson for the National Fire and Rescue Administration, said there were 947 fire deaths in the first few months of this year, a 19% increase from the same period last year. Fires in public places, such as hotels and restaurants, have gone up by 40%, often due to faulty electrical or gas lines and carelessness.

This is even not new! In January, a fire in Jiangxi killed about 39 people in a renowned commercial building. That was mainly caused by unauthorized welding in the basement. 

Even in February, 15 people died in Nanjing when a fire broke out in a residential building's parking lot, where electric bikes were stored.

This latest incident shows the ongoing challenges China faces in fire safety and the urgent need for better safety measures in commercial and residential buildings.