The fire at the Yingcai school in Yanshanpu village, Henan, was reported to the local fire department at 11 p.m. Friday, Xinhua said. Thirteen people have been confirmed dead and one injured, the agency said. Yanshanpu village is on the outskirts of Nanyang, a city of nearly 10 million people.
A fire brigade in China. Illustration photo: Xinhua News Agency
“Rescuers rushed to the scene and the fire was put out at 11:38 p.m.,” the state news agency added. Local authorities are investigating the cause of the fire and at least one person connected to the school has been arrested.
Xinhua did not say how many of the dead were children. However, one commenter on Weibo wrote: “This is so scary, 13 children from 13 families, all died at once…”
In November 2023, 26 people were killed and dozens hospitalized after a fire at a coal company office in Shanxi province, northern China. The previous July, 11 people died after the roof of a school gym collapsed in northeastern China.
Following the coal company fire, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the country to “conduct in-depth investigations into potential risks in key industries, improve emergency plans and preventive measures.”
A month earlier, an explosion at a barbecue restaurant in northwestern China killed 31 people and prompted authorities to launch a nationwide campaign to promote workplace safety.
Hoang Anh (according to Xinhua News Agency, AFP, CNA)
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