Twelve people died in a residential fire in Shantou, southern China, state media Xinhua reported. The blaze broke out on Tuesday at 9:20 p.m. and was extinguished about 40 minutes later. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.
The incident comes as Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades claimed 160 lives on Tuesday. Chinese leaders called for urgent action to eliminate safety hazards in the housing industry. Officials emphasized stricter enforcement of fire safety standards across the country.
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China recently announced a nationwide inspection of fire safety in high-rise buildings. The review aims to prevent disasters similar to the Hong Kong blaze. Authorities are focusing on both residential and commercial buildings for improved safety measures.
The Shantou fire is part of a troubling trend of deadly fires in China. In April, 20 people died in a nursing home fire in Hebei province. Weeks later, a restaurant fire in northeastern China killed 22 people.
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Officials urged stricter fire safety protocols and public awareness campaigns. They warned that more needs to be done to prevent future tragedies. Investigators continue working to determine the exact cause of the Shantou blaze.