Twenty-two people have died and three have been injured after a fire broke out at a restaurant in China, according to reports
The blaze occurred at approximately 12:25 p.m. local time at a location in the city of Liaoyang in northeast China’s Liaoning Province, the state-run Xinhua News Agency noted
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged “all-out efforts” to treat those who had been injured, the outlet reported
Twenty-two people have died and three have been injured in a fire at a restaurant in China, according to local media reports.
On Tuesday, April 29, at approximately 12:25 p.m. local time, the blaze broke out at a location in the city of Liaoyang in northeast China’s Liaoning Province, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
Authorities haven’t revealed the cause of the fire, per the Associated Press, and reports didn’t appear to confirm the exact location.
The AP stated that regional politicians had pledged “to get to the bottom of the disaster and severely punish those responsible.” The news agency noted the search for survivors had ended and the fire had been extinguished, citing the provincial radio and television bureau.
Xinhua/Shutterstock
A fire broke out at a restaurant in the city of Liaoyang in northeast China’s Liaoning Province
After news of the blaze was reported on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping “urged all-out efforts” to treat those that had been injured, Xinhua reported.
The president called the fire “a deeply sobering lesson,” urging local officials to “determine what triggered the blaze and hold those responsible to account,” Reuters noted.
Hao Peng, currently serving as the Party Secretary of Liaoning, said 22 fire trucks and 85 firefighters had been deployed following the blaze, Reuters reported.
The politician said people had been evacuated from the scene and on-site rescue work had been completed, the news agency stated.
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Liaoyang in northeast China’s Liaoning Province
The cause of the blaze is still being investigated. The AP noted that industrial accidents occur frequently in China, adding that things such as “poorly maintained infrastructure” and “a lack of fire exits and fire retardant” are often factors in such tragedies.
*This is a breaking news story
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