Fire in northern China high-rise building kills 14, injures dozens more

Fourteen people were killed and dozens injured after a fire erupted in a high-rise building in Taiyuan, the capital city of Shanxi province in northern China. The inferno broke out at around 5pm on Sunday, according to the local Yingze district government. Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames by around 7pm, and rescue operations concluded at 8:30pm, the authorities reported.

That evening, 38 individuals were taken to hospitals, including five who tragically lost their lives. By Monday morning, the death toll had risen to 14, as confirmed by state news agency Xinhua.

The authorities stated that all-out efforts were being made to treat the injured, while ongoing investigations were being conducted to determine the cause of the fire. The affected building was a mixed-use residential and commercial complex. A hotel staff member reported that the fire appeared to originate on the fifth floor, with some injuries sustained on the eighth floor. He assisted firefighters in their search for survivors during the initial stages as portions of the building continued to burn.

The building, situated in downtown Taiyuan, is close to various establishments such as hospitals, schools, commercial centers, and tourist attractions. Pictures from Jimu News show that apart from hotels, the structure also houses restaurants and academic training centers for children.