16 people die as fire engulfs shopping mall in China

KABUL (Pajhwok): Sixteen people were killed after a fire broke out at a shopping mall in southwest China on Wednesday, according to state media.

Chinese investigators suspect construction work sparked the fire in the southwestern city of Zigong. The fire broke out around 6:00 p.m. Wednesday and took almost 10 hours to be extinguished, state media reported.

CNN reported: “About 30 people were rescued from the blaze after nearly 300 emergency workers and dozens of vehicles were dispatched from the local fire department to the scene”.

Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management urged rescue workers and provincial officials to determine the cause of the fire as soon as possible, and to learn lessons to ensure greater security in the future.

hz/ma

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