At least 22 people have died and three others were injured in a fire at a restaurant in Liaoyang, a city in northern China. The fire broke out shortly after noon local time on Tuesday, and authorities have not yet shared details about what caused it.
Images from the scene showed large flames coming from the windows and doors of the multi-storey building. Videos shared on Douyin, which is similar to TikTok, captured paramedics taking one victim to an ambulance and firefighters working hard to control the blaze. Over a dozen fire engines were seen parked outside the restaurant, and a total of 22 fire trucks and 85 firefighters were dispatched to the incident.
Hao Peng, a local official, confirmed that the rescue operation was completed and that everyone had been evacuated from the building. In response to the tragedy, regional politicians have promised to investigate the incident thoroughly and hold those responsible accountable.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for immediate efforts to help the injured and support the families of the deceased. He also emphasized the need to quickly determine the cause of the fire.
Industrial accidents are not uncommon in China, often linked to a lack of safety training, pressure from superiors, and poorly maintained infrastructure. In recent months, there have been several deadly incidents, including a fire at a nursing home that killed at least 20 people in Hebei province and another blaze at a vegetable market that resulted in eight deaths earlier this year.
As investigations continue, the community mourns the loss of life and seeks answers regarding safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.