At least 39 people died this Wednesday due to a fire that occurred in a store in Jiangxi province, in the center of Chinaindicated a state media.
Public television CCTV noted that the fire began “on the underground level of a store in Xinyu” at 3:24 p.m. (07:24 GMT).
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“So far, the accident has caused the death of 39 people, nine injured”CCTV indicated shortly after 8:00 p.m. local time (12:00 GMT), specifying that there are still “trapped people” at the scene of the incident.
A previous balance sheet reported 25 deceased.
The chain did not specify at the moment or the cause of the fire nor how many people are still in danger.
The images broadcast by this channel show several fire trucks and other vehicles of emergency services stationed on a street in front of a row of businesses.
In a statement, the Chinese president, Xi Jinpingdemanded that this type of fatal accidents be stopped.
Xi “gave important instructions […] calling for a firm curb on the frequency at which safety-related accidents occur, to ensure the safety of people’s lives and […] the social stability”, CCTV reported.
For its part, the state newspaper The Global Times published a statement issued by a “emergency command” local, formed by municipal officials as a result of the fire, who explained that “Search and rescue efforts continue” and that “the cause of the accident remains under investigation.”
In videos recorded at the scene of the event and shared on social networks by the newspaper The Paperrun by the government, thick smoke could be seen and a crowd kept away from the scene of the fire.
Fires and other fatal accidents are common in Chinadue to already lax safety regulationsl non-compliance with them.
The incident occurred just five days after another fire in the dormitory of a boarding school killed 13 people in Hena provincen, also in the center of China.
