Fire in Shanxi High-Rise Kills 14 in Taiyuan, China
On Sunday evening, a severe fire broke out in a high-rise building in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province in northern China, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 people. According to Chinese state media and the Anadolu News Agency, the incident left dozens injured, who were taken to nearby hospitals.
Xinhua News Agency, citing local officials, initially reported five deaths and 38 injuries handed over to medical centers. However, by Monday morning, the death toll rose to 14. The building is located in a central area close to hospitals, schools, commercial centers, and recreational venues.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and investigations are ongoing. China’s history shows that weak enforcement of safety regulations and building codes has led to multiple deadly fires. In November last year, a major fire in several residential towers in Hong Kong killed 168 people. Another fire in December in Guangdong province in southern China claimed 12 lives.
