At least 39 people killed in store fire in China's Jiangxi province

“At 3:24 p.m. on January 24, a fire broke out in the basement of a store in Xinyu, Jiangxi,” state broadcaster CCTV reported shortly after 8 p.m. local time. “So far, the accident has killed 39 people, injured nine, and others are still trapped.”

The report did not say what exactly caused the fire or how many people were still in danger. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “resolute prevention” of fatal accidents in the country, in a statement issued after the fire.

CCTV reported that Xi Jinping “issued important instructions… requiring resolutely preventing the frequent occurrence of various safety accidents to ensure the security of people’s lives and property and overall social stability.”

CCTV footage of the scene shows several fire trucks and other emergency response vehicles lined up across the street from a row of businesses.

The Global Times published a statement about the city's emergency unit, which was set up by local officials after the fire broke out. "Currently, on-site search and rescue work is still underway and the cause of the accident is also under investigation," the statement said.

Video footage posted by Chinese media from the scene showed huge plumes of smoke billowing into the sky as crowds of people looked on from a distance. Emergency vehicles could be seen nearby as security personnel asked people not to come any closer.

The fire comes just five days after a late-night fire at a school in Henan province, also in central China, killed 13 people. In November 2023, 26 people died after a fire at a coal company office in Shanxi province, northern China.

In December, an explosion at a barbecue restaurant in northwestern China killed 31 people and prompted authorities to launch a nationwide campaign to promote workplace safety.

Bui Huy (according to CCTV, Xinhua, AFP)