A restaurant fire in northeastern China tragically resulted in the deaths of 22 people and injuries to three others on Tuesday, according to Beijing’s state media. Online footage depicted intense flames engulfing the building.
The blaze erupted during lunchtime in Liaoyang City, situated approximately 580 kilometers (360 miles) northeast of the capital Beijing, reported Chinese broadcaster CCTV.
“The incident has resulted in 22 deaths and three injuries,” the broadcaster stated.
President Xi Jinping described the fire as causing “significant casualties” and emphasized that the lessons to be learned from it were “profoundly serious,” CCTV reported.
The report further added that Xi called for “every effort to treat the injured, properly handle the aftermath for the deceased and provide support to their families, swiftly determine the cause of the fire, and pursue accountability in accordance with the law.”
Footage shared online and verified by AFP showed the raging fire consuming the two-story restaurant, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.
Other authenticated videos published on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, showed paramedics transporting a victim on a stretcher into an ambulance and several firefighters actively battling the flames with hoses.
An additional video from the social media platform, captured from an elevated perspective, showed more than a dozen fire engines parked outside the restaurant.
A woman employed at a nearby restaurant stated that she had remained indoors all day and only became aware of the incident after reading news articles about the fire.
“We weren’t aware of it and continued on normally,” she conveyed to AFP via telephone.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she had “no idea” what initiated the fire but mentioned hearing sirens and noted the continued presence of police outside her restaurant.
“It definitely was very tragic,” she added.
Fatal fires are relatively common in China, often attributed to lax building codes and a frequently careless approach to workplace safety regulations.
