WEBDESK: A tragic nursing home fire in northern China’s Hebei province has taken the lives of 20 people, Beijing’s state news agency Xinhua said on Wednesday. The incident occurred on Tuesday night in Longhua County, Hebei province.
Local officials reported that the nursing home fire started around 9 p.m. and quickly spread through the facility. Emergency services responded immediately, and the flames were put out later that night. Despite the quick response, 20 residents sadly lost their lives in the blaze.
Survivors of the nursing home fire were quickly moved to nearby hospitals for medical attention. Some residents were treated for smoke inhalation, while others were kept under observation as a safety measure.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the nursing home fire. An individual responsible for the nursing home has been detained by police, the county government said. It is not yet clear whether the fire was caused by faulty wiring, negligence, or another reason.
China has faced similar tragedies in the past, with fires in care facilities and factories often linked to poor safety standards and a lack of proper emergency systems. This latest nursing home fire has sparked calls for stricter regulations and regular safety inspections to prevent future accidents.
In January, a fire at a vegetable market in Zhangjiakou city, northwest of Beijing, killed eight people and injured 15.
A month before that, nine people died in a fire at a construction site in eastern China’s Rongcheng city.
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