Tragedy struck in Zigong, a city in China's Sichuan province, as a fire engulfed a shopping mall on Wednesday, claiming the lives of six individuals. The incident, which occurred at approximately 6 p.m. local time, led to a massive column of black smoke emanating from the 14-story building, as captured in dramatic images.
Upon receiving the distress call, nearly 300 emergency responders along with numerous vehicles rushed to the scene from the local fire department. The tireless efforts of these responders led to the successful extinguishing of the blaze by 8.20 p.m. local time. Amidst the chaos, a total of 30 individuals were rescued from the site, though the exact number of those still trapped remains uncertain.
Unfortunately, such incidents are not uncommon in China, where safety standards often fall short and enforcement measures are lacking. This recent tragedy in Zigong follows a similar pattern of fire-related disasters in the country. In January, a mixed-use building fire in southeastern China resulted in the loss of at least 39 lives and injuries to nine others. Prior to that, a dormitory fire at a boarding school in Henan province claimed the lives of 13 children, further underscoring the urgent need for improved safety protocols and enforcement mechanisms.
